AnnieRuth Foundation Summer Internship Program: A Transformative Experience
The AnnieRuth Foundation's Summer Internship Program offers high school juniors and seniors a platform to cultivate personal, academic, and workforce development skills. It provides hands-on experience, an adult mentor, and a paycheck for hours completed during the internship, regardless of whether students aspire to careers in medicine, engineering, business, law, or the creative arts. This program places students in a safe, professional environment that directly aligns with their career aspirations.
Immersive Experiences in the Medical Field
Participating in the AnnieRuth Foundation’s Summer Internship Program provides invaluable insights into various professional fields, especially the medical field.
One student, Khloe, a rising senior at Bishop Kenny High School and an aspiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), participated in the 2025 AnnieRuth Foundation Summer Internship Experience cohort. She completed a six-week internship at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital under the guidance of Mrs. Denise Olafson, the lead volunteer coordinator for Ascension’s St. Vincent’s Duval County. During the first four weeks, Khloe gained direct exposure to patient care through rotations in the Pulmonology Lab and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) recovery room. In the final two weeks, she contributed to special projects and assisted on the nursing floors and in the surgery and recovery front desk.
Hands-on Learning in Pulmonology and Anesthesia
During her internship at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital, Khloe gained invaluable exposure to the healthcare field, extending far beyond the basics of clinical etiquette, observing real-world patient care and the collaborative nature of healthcare environments. In the Pulmonary Lab, she assisted with filing and patient data calculations, contributing to the organization of medical records for crucial patients. On more active days, she shadowed healthcare professionals as they conducted diagnostic trials to assess the strength of the patients’ cardiac systems, needed in identifying the stage and severity of respiratory or cardiovascular problems. In the PACU recovery room, she helped with transportation, moving patients coming out from anesthesia to their rides and pickups from family and caretakers.
Supporting Nursing and Surgical Operations
During the last part of the internship, Khloe helped the nursing levels by restocking burning stations, stocking nursing cubbies with gowns, gloves, socks, wipes, masks, etc., and by making personal guests’ bags for patients in serious condition planning to stay in the hospital for several days or more. At the surgical front desk, she helped check in families, ensured accurate communication between staff and visitors, and provided nurses with physical descriptions of family members to help with patient pick-up from recovery in the PACU. Through this six-week experience, this internship strengthened her understanding of patient care, hospital operations, and the importance of teamwork in clinical settings. She developed communication skills through direct interactions with staff and patients and learned the value of accuracy and empathy in healthcare environments, mainly in nursing and surgical environments.
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Exposure to Endocrinology and Neurosurgery
Another student's journey began with a two-week internship under Dr. Sutton at NEFEDA (America’s largest endocrinology practice), where they had the privilege of shadowing him and observing his interactions with patients, witnessing firsthand the dynamic role of a doctor as Dr. Sutton adapted his approach to meet the unique needs of each patient. During this time, the student observed a thyroid biopsy, learned about the process of prescribing medications, and gained a deeper understanding of the patient-doctor relationship. The student learned so much about endocrinology (a term they didn’t know anything about before) during this experience - especially about type-1 and type-2 diabetes, various medical conditions, various hormonal issues, medicines being prescribed, their side effects, and more. This gave the student a deep insight into the world of medicine, a privilege that no other program other than the AnnieRuth Foundation would have been able to provide. Additionally, they observed the physician assistant at Dr. Sutton's office.
Immersed in Neurosurgery
The student's journey continued with another two-week experience at Baptist Lyerly Neurosurgery Center, where they were immersed in the fast-paced world of neurosurgery. Under the guidance of world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Ricardo Hanel (who has 350 publications and 15,000 citations), the student had the extraordinary opportunity to enter the operating room at Baptist and observe open spine surgery on an aneurysm and view an open-heart surgery on a baby with Dr. Fernanda (another neurosurgeon). The student spent considerable time with other neurosurgeons such as Dr. Nima, Dr. Salvador, and others (such as nurse Mrs. Miesha) who provided clinical experience as well as invaluable hands-on experiences, such as allowing the opportunity to conduct an aneurysm surgery using advanced virtual practice surgical equipment. Also, the student learned about some of the research the doctors were doing involving AI and other techniques, which broadened their perspective of neurosurgery. Through these interactions as well as lectures by the doctors themselves, the student deepened their understanding of medical conditions, particularly aneurysms and strokes, and the complexities of neurosurgical procedures.
Beyond Clinical Rotations: Essential Skills and Certifications
The AnnieRuth Foundation’s comprehensive program extends beyond clinical rotations, equipping students with essential skills and certifications. The foundation allowed students the chance to earn their BLS certification, crucial for any healthcare professional. Additionally, students attended a medical presentation, where they learned about the inner workings of the field and how to get into medical school from experienced doctors. Every Wednesday, students were able to talk and listen to all types of medical experts from nurses to PAs to doctors talk about their chosen fields and what it takes to earn a place in the medical community. A visit to the Mayo Clinic Simulation Center further enriched the understanding of medical practices and innovations. The professional development seminars on Saturdays throughout the year organized by the foundation helped enhance communication skills, boost confidence, and prepare students for future success. Even though a program of this level requires consistent dedication and hard work, the outcome surpasses all expectations, making the journey extremely worth it.
Community Impact and Support
The AnnieRuth Foundation's charity concert was amazing! There is still time to assist with raising $20,000 by February. The foundation strengthens underserved communities by providing educational programs and resources in an effort to educate, enrich and empower those of whom they serve.
One parent noted firsthand the positive impact this program has had on their son’s confidence, leadership, and career direction and thanked the AnnieRuth Foundation for delivering such outstanding community outreach to our residents.
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Another individual expressed gratitude for the AnnieRuth Foundation’s summer internship program, which gave them the green light to pursue a career in music, noting that the life nuggets that the instructor would give his class helped them not to give up on their craft, and they love the unique ways they can combine melodies and chords together.
S.P. Livingston Elementary School expressed thanks for the time to come present at their school. The fruit and vegetable samples were so awesome and tasty, but beyond that, it was super beneficial.
For 13 consecutive years, the AnnieRuth Foundation has offered a summer internship program that provides a platform for high school juniors and seniors to develop personal, academic, and workforce development skills. Ultimately, students are placed in a safe, professional environment that directly aligns with their career aspirations. Whether you aspire to have a career in medicine, engineering, business, law, or the creative arts, through this program, you can receive hands-on experience, an adult mentor, and a paycheck (for hours completed during the internship experience).
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