• Public Health Data and Policy Internship: Report on Patient Access to Care - Fall 2026 – REMOTE

    Candidates must have their own computer and secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN and the ability to work remotely while collaborating with program staff at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 

    The Public Health Data and Policy Intern: Report on Patient Access to Care will join the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Director's Office, Medical Services Division, to support the development of a comprehensive statewide report for the Illinois General Assembly evaluating healthcare access and population health outcomes across Illinois. Working alongside public health professionals and key stakeholders, the intern will assist with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from multiple sources to inform evidence-based recommendations that strengthen Illinois' healthcare system, improve access to quality care, and reduce health disparities, with a particular focus on communities experiencing limited access to critical healthcare services.

    This internship provides hands-on experience in public health data analytics, epidemiological and health policy research, and statewide strategic planning. Interns will gain practical experience translating complex data into actionable insights that support policy development and help improve the health and well-being of Illinois residents.

    This opportunity is ideal for highly motivated, self-directed individuals with strong data analytical skills and an interest in public health and health policy.


    Responsibilities:

    • Collect, review, clean, organize, synthesize, and analyze data from multiple sources to support the development of the Report on Patient Access to Care.
    • Assist in developing tables, charts, maps, dashboards, and other visualizations that communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
    • Review claims data, policy-related documents, and other relevant information to inform report findings and recommendations.
    • Assist with epidemiological analyses, literature reviews, and research related to health care access and population health outcomes.
    • Support the development of findings and recommendations related to improving health care access, quality, and effectiveness.
    • Collaborate with IDPH staff, state agencies, and stakeholders involved in the development of the report.
    • Assist with additional research, data analysis, and special projects that support the goals of the Medical Services Division. 
    • Organize and maintain research files, datasets, and project documentation.
    • Other duties as assigned and related to the scope of work outlined above. 


    Requirements:

    • Must be in good academic standing and currently enrolled in a graduate program in Epidemiology, Health Policy, Health Informatics, Biostatistics, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), or a related field.
    • Must be highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, SAS, and R.
    • Secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN. 
    • Ability to work in office Monday-Friday during working hours (8:30 am – 5 pm) – flexible based on your academic schedule. 


    Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

    • Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data from multiple sources.
    • Ability to conduct literature reviews and synthesize information from health care and policy-related documents.
    • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify trends and draw insights from data.
    • Ability to work independently and complete tasks with minimal guidance. 
    • Advanced data analytic skills and experience working with complex datasets from multiple sources preferred.
    • Ability to clean and organize large datasets before analysis. 
    • Experience analyzing quantitative data using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-test, chi square, and regression.
    • Experience with spatial and GIS analysis. ArcGIS and Tableau proficiency preferred.
    • Ability to present data using charts, tables, and visualizations.
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
    • Effective teamwork and collaboration skills. 
    • Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
    • Understanding of fiscal/accounting data is a plus.
    • Basic understanding of healthcare claims data, population health, or health services research (preferred).


    Schedule and Compensation: 

    This internship will be for the Fall 2026 semester (approximately mid-August to mid-December) and will require 5-10 hours per week (flexible days/times discussed at your first meeting with your supervisor). 

    This is an unpaid internship, but academic credit may be available depending on your institution’s policies and guidelines – please speak with an academic advisor. 

     

    All applications must be submitted by 9 a.m., Monday, August 10, 2026 to be considered for this internship. 

    Apply Here