High School Internship Program at Reading Hospital

Program Eligibility

Students who are eligible to apply must:

• Be a Berks County student
• Be a high school senior during the 2026 - 2027 academic year
• Have no discipline or attendance issues
• Submit a complete application as outlined in the application requirements section

Note: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Additional questions can be sent to Pathways@towerhealth.org.

Application and Interview Process

Students interested in applying for Reading Hospital’s High School Internship Program must complete and submit the documents outlined below to be considered. All application documents outlined are to be submitted as attachments in one email sent to Pathways@towerhealth.org. Incomplete applications and those sent via cloud-based applications such as Google Docs will not be accepted.

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 9, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.

Application Documents

• Application for admission form
• One-page personal statement: in one page or less, please address the following topics:
  • Why do you want to intern at Reading Hospital?
  • How does it fit into your personal goals now and your future education and career goals?
  • What do you hope to learn and/or what skills do you hope to gain or develop during your internship?
• Resume or list of academic, volunteer, employment, or extracurricular activities such as honor societies, clubs, athletics
• Two letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcript

Application and Selection Timeline

Please note: Dates are subject to change at the discretion of Reading Hospital.

All students who submit a complete application will be eligible for an interview. Interviews will take place throughout January, February, and March 2026. Each school's respective Internship Coordinator will select blocks of time to schedule their students for interviews. Students will be assigned a 20-minute interview spot during the date and time selected by the Internship Coordinator.

All interviews will be conducted virtually. Internship Coordinators will assist with resources needed to participate in the interview, including Internet access, a working web camera, and microphone. Once all interviews are completed, students will be notified via email whether or not they are selected for a position with the High School Internship Program.

Next Steps for Accepted Students

Students who are offered and accept a position in Reading Hospital’s High School Internship Program will be required to attend a one-hour virtual student and parent/guardian orientation. At least one parent or guardian is required to participate in the session. Information regarding the date and time of the virtual orientation will be provided in the notification email. At least two sessions will be held to accommodate student schedules.

Upon completing the student and parent/guardian orientation, a member of the Reading Hospital's Human Resources Department will reach out to begin the onboarding process. There are multiple steps in the process, and it is imperative that all requirements are completed in a timely manner to prevent any delays. Students will need to complete the following:

Human Resources

• Electronic application documents (via iCIMS)
• Working papers (if under 18 years old)

Employee Health

• Immunization records
• Urine drug screen
• Quantiferon lab test (tuberculosis)
• OSHA respirator questionnaire

The Reading Hospital team does its best to align department placements with our high school interns' areas of interest. Placement in department of choice is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of Reading Hospital departments and their capacity to host a student throughout the academic year.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have transportation to and from the location of their internship. Bus passes may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Program Schedule

Students will be required to confirm a consistent schedule of the weekdays and hours they will be on campus. Internship hours should be scheduled Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekly schedules should not exceed 10 hours and should not be less than six hours.

A mandatory orientation program for all interns will take place the weeks of September 7 and September 14, 2026. Date and time will be announced prior to the students' first day on campus. Workshops are offered one to two times per month and cover a range of topics in personal and professional development. It is strongly suggested that students attend all workshops no matter their schedule or term. Students, their internship program coordinator, and the Hospital will work together to ensure this is possible.