Overlook Summer Internship Program: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Medical Professionals

The Overlook Summer Internship Program (OSIP) is a unique and highly selective four-week program designed to expose undergraduate college students to the multifaceted world of healthcare. This initiative, led by medical professionals committed to teaching and sharing their experiences, aims to help students make informed decisions about potentially entering the diverse and exciting fields of medicine.

Program Overview

OSIP offers a comprehensive overview of the medical field through a combination of interactive discussions, mentorship, and hands-on shadowing experiences. The program is structured to provide participants with a realistic glimpse into the daily lives of medical professionals across various specialties.

Daily Structure and Rotations

Each weekday, Monday through Thursday, begins with a one-hour breakfast discussion led by a medical professional. These discussions focus on the lifestyle aspects, pros, and cons associated with different medical specialties. This provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain insights into the realities of various career paths within medicine.

Following the breakfast discussion, students report to their assigned mentors for the day. The setting and structure of the day are determined by the mentor, ensuring a diverse and personalized learning experience. Rotations may include observing procedures in the operating room, gaining experience in the emergency department, accompanying physicians on hospital floors, attending appointments in physician offices, or participating in meetings. Put simply, whatever happened that day with the doctor in the hospital is what we experienced.

Fridays consist of a half-day mentorship followed by a lunch session for exchanging ideas and discussing interests.

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Mentorship and Shadowing

A key component of OSIP is the opportunity to shadow medical professionals in one-day rotations. This allows students to witness firsthand what life is like in each particular field. Rotations include experience in the operating room, emergency department, hospital floors, physician offices or meetings. Students shadow a medical professional - mostly physicians, but also therapists, administrators, nurses and social workers - who is committed to teaching and sharing their experiences.

Students in the OSIP program participate in one-on-one shadowing experiences with a variety of doctors.

The Goal of the Program

The primary goal of OSIP is to provide students with the knowledge and experiences necessary to make an informed decision about pursuing a career in medicine. "The goal of this program is to help students make an informed decision about possibly entering one of the many exciting fields of medicine,” said Dr. Sales who is also president of the Overlook Medical Staff.

Benefits of Participation

Informed Decision-Making: OSIP provides students with a realistic understanding of the medical profession, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future careers.
Exposure to Diverse Specialties: The program exposes students to a wide range of medical specialties, allowing them to discover areas of interest they may not have previously considered. Each year, we have students who are surprised to discover an area of medicine they never thought they would be drawn to, and we have others who decide being a doctor is not for them,” says Dr.
Networking Opportunities: OSIP provides students with the opportunity to network with medical professionals, build relationships, and gain valuable insights into the field.
Enhanced Medical School Applications: Experiences from the program may be valuable throughout the medical school application process. All participants are provided with a letter of recommendation for future career and education use.

Program Details

Duration: The program is a comprehensive four-week experience.
Location: Overlook Medical Center, based in Summit, NJ.
Eligibility: Students must have completed at least one year of college to apply to the Overlook Summer Internship Program (OSIP). Consideration will be given to class level and academic standing. You must have completed at least two years of college by the time the program begins to apply to this program.
Cost: There is an administrative cost of $500 to retain a space in the program. Each student must provide his or her own transportation between locations.
Schedule: The program will run from June 2, 2026 to June 26, 2026. Morning discussions are at 8:00am and the mentorships will begin at 9:00am. Friday mentorships will conclude early to allow for a conference beginning at 12:00pm. You will be required to attend a one-day orientation on June 1, 2026. Failure to appear will result in automatic dismissal from the program.
Requirements: Hospital policies require that you submit to a background check and provide medical records prior to participating in the program. All participants in the program (students and mentors) will be asked to submit a daily evaluation of their experience. Background checks, medical records, and tuberculosis testing are mandatory before participation.
Application Deadline: All materials must be submitted by midnight (EST) January 1, 2026, to be considered.

The Impact of OSIP

The Overlook Summer Internship Program has had a significant impact on the lives of its participants. Many students have gone on to pursue successful careers in medicine, while others have used the experience to make informed decisions about alternative career paths.

OSIP intern Julia Wickman watches as urologists Dr. Alon Mass, left, and Dr.

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OSIP students said they learn the lifestyle and pros and cons of medical careers through daily morning meetings with mentors, and they participate in one-on-one shadowing experiences with a variety of doctors. "This program lets you see medicine raw,” she said. “The doctors don’t have any time to baby you, and the patients aren’t shying away from their priority - their health. “I’ve probably met more doctors in this program than I’m going to meet for a long time,” he said.

Adapting to Challenges

The program has demonstrated its resilience by adapting to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of restrictions, OSIP has continued to provide valuable experiences for students through virtual meetings and shadowing opportunities at private practices. While the students do not shadow at Overlook Medical Center, they are still provided one-on-one shadow experiences at private practices. There are 25 mentors this year instead of the usual 80. The students, however, said they still soak up information during daily morning meetings and Friday lectures by Sales.

Overlook Medical Center: A Leader in Healthcare

Overlook Medical Center, based in Summit, NJ, is a recognized leader in neuroscience care and home to some of New Jersey’s top doctors, most compassionate care and most advanced technology and treatments. Atlantic Neuroscience Institute is the region’s leader in neuroscience care, offering a broad range of advanced neurological, neurosurgical and neurodiagnostic services. News & World Report recognizes Overlook Medical Center among the best hospitals in central New Jersey and as a “Best Regional Hospital” for neurology & neurosurgery. Accredited for behavioral health care by The Joint Commission, Overlook Medical Center is also advanced certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Testimonials

OSIP intern Cara Fogarty looks on as Dr. Burley didn’t just watch well checkups - she got to witness multiple baby deliveries. “Dr. Sales really cares,” she said.

Is OSIP Right for You?

If you are a college student considering a career in medicine, the Overlook Summer Internship Program may be an invaluable experience. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse world of healthcare, gain hands-on experience, and make informed decisions about your future.

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