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UF Health University of Florida
Department of Surgery College of Medicine
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About Us Overview

Health Administration Internship Program

Celebrating 10+ Years of Interns and a Legacy of Success

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Health Administration Internship is a competitively paid, ten week full-time position (40 hours/week) with the University of Florida Department of Surgery in conjunction with UF Health in Gainesville, Florida. Success in the full-time position may lead to an opportunity to continue the internship part-time.

This internship program is directed by Lonn McDowell, DHA, MHA, FACHE, FACMPE and precepted by Savannah Patterson Johnson, MHA.

Comprehensive Learning Opportunities

  • Financial Management
  • Budgeting & Accounting
  • Human Resources
  • Clinic Management
  • Academic Research
  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Quality Improvement
  • Marketing & Communications

Program Structure

  • Project-Based: Interns will be responsible for delegated projects and responsibilities. Projects are often tailored to the intern’s strengths and learning interests.
  • Operations: Interns have the opportunity to work and participate in the daily operations and executive meetings of the UF Department of Surgery.
  • Shadowing: Previous interns have been hosted in surgical outpatient practices, the Patient Access Center, sterile processing, and operating rooms.

(From Left) Program Preceptor Savannah Patterson Johnson, MHA; Current Intern Erin Solomon Norris, MSP; & Program Director Lonn McDowell, DHA, MHA, FACHE, FACMPE

Chomp Group Photo

APPLICATION INFORMATION

2026 Internship

We are no longer accepting applications for the Summer 2026 internship. Submitted applications are under review and interviews will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Applicants interested in applying for our Summer 2027 internship should be prepared to submit a resume/CV and cover letter in the Fall of 2026.

Applicants must be a current student of an accredited graduate program relevant to health administration (i.e. MHA, MPH, MBA).

Previous Interns

  • 2015: Monique Hutchins, MHA
  • 2015: Erica Tanner, MHA, MSF, CHFP
  • 2016: Nathalie Ros, MHA
  • 2016: Athena Tingberg Mira, MHA
  • 2017: H. Daniel Lee, MHA
  • 2018: Christopher Kovacs, MHA
  • 2019: Karolina Golanka, MHA
  • 2020: Kelsey Harrington, MHA
  • 2020: Jackson Hewang, MHA
  • 2021: Savannah Patterson Johnson, MHA
  • 2021: Anu Vats, MHA
  • 2022: Nina Abando Lopez, MHA
  • 2023: Nathalie Sawczuk, MHA
  • 2024: Emily Kintz, MHA
  • 2025: Aurora Marcelo-Schreiber, MHA
  • 2025: Erin Solomon Norris, MSP [Current Intern – UF MHA 2026 Candidate]
  • 2026:

A Message from our internship director

Lonn McDowell, DHA, MHA, FACHE, FACMPE

"The MHA administrative interns that our department has worked with over the years have been an integral part of our executive team. They have all been able to help us work towards solutions for our clinical, education and research missions of an academic medical center. Our successful interns have been able to work within the financial, operational, human resources, clinic, perioperative, and general administrative functions of our department. They have also challenged me, and the other members of our executive team, to continue to learn and grow along with them."