Internships
Completing an internship at the University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehab Institute is a once in a lifetime experience. Interns are responsible for developing and implementing an exercise-based rehabilitation program for cancer survivors.
Unlike other rehabilitation internships, there is no shadowing or observing involved. Interns are responsible for hands on, one-on-one interaction with the cancer survivors in our program. Our internship ensures that students will become the very best clinicians in the field and gain proficiency in cancer-specific clinical assessments such as: vitals, body composition, functional testing, balance, pulmonary function, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, range of motion, and flexibility.
Our interns will also gain valuable experience writing exercise prescriptions and developing exercise-based interventions. After completing an internship at UNCCRI and passing our certification exam, interns will become certified as Level 2 Clinical Cancer Exercise Specialists.
Who should apply?
Any individual who is looking to work in a rehabilitative, exercise science, or health-related field is welcome to apply. Interested in physical therapy or occupational therapy school? Students seeking admission into physical therapy or occupational therapy school who intern at UNCCRI have a greater chance of a successful admission because:
Completing an internship at UNCCRI provides over 500 clinical, patient contact hours in a rehabilitation setting with a special population
Interns will be proficient at multiple clinical assessment skills used in most facilities
Interns will have had experience developing and implementing an individualized, prescriptive exercise-based intervention
Not only does our internship serve as a capstone experience for exercise science-related degrees, it can assist in obtaining similar degrees in higher education. Past interns have been accepted into medical school, dental school, graduate programs, physician assistant programs, with the experience at UNCCRI being one of the major contributing factors setting them apart from other applicants.
Internship Qualifications:
- Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science or health-related field (graduate level internships are also available)
- Knowledge of exercise assessment (treadmill testing, body composition, spirometry, muscular strength/endurance, flexibility/ROM), exercise prescription, and exercise programming
- Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) certification
- Must be available a minimum of 30 hours per week for 15-to-17 weeks if registered for a 12 credit internship
Internship Opportunities:
- Medical screenings for cancer patients
- Conduct exercise assessments of cancer patients
- Write exercise prescriptions for cancer patients
- Develop, implement, and supervise exercise interventions for cancer patients
- Assist the UNCCRI Director, Clinical Coordinator, and other staff with various aspects of UNCCRI policies, procedures, data collection/management
