Job Specifications
How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
The Quality Department is offering a 12-week summer internship within its Program Management Office. The Summer Project Management Intern will support enterprise and departmental improvement efforts by applying continuous improvement, project management, and analytical principles to real operational challenges. Working under the direction of the Program Management Office (PMO) Director and receiving day-to-day oversight and coaching from a Continuous Improvement Specialist Lead, the Intern will contribute to multiple projects, gain exposure to senior leadership, and strengthen skills in data analysis, structured problem solving, change management, and professional communication.
This internship is ideal for students who are curious, collaborative, analytical, and interested in a career in healthcare operations, quality improvement, engineering, or management.
A hybrid schedule is available; some on-site presence is required.
Mission Statement
Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.
Responsibilities*
65% Project Leadership & Support
Support complex quality improvement (QI) and project management (PM) activities across multiple departments.
Conduct process studies, workflow assessments, and staffing or resource analyses to identify opportunities for quality, safety, and efficiency enhancements.
Translate qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights for decision-making.
Assist in developing project proposals, work plans, charters, meeting materials, and timelines.
Track and update project status, risks, issues, decisions, and dependencies.
Prepare presentations, reports, and documentation for a variety of stakeholders, including senior leaders.
Apply QI tools such as A3 thinking, value stream mapping, problem analysis, root cause identification, and rapid-cycle improvement.
Support and occasionally co-facilitate improvement workshops, stakeholder meetings, and change-management activities.
Help coordinate communication, logistics, and alignment across project teams and departments.
20% Professional Development & Learning
Participate in structured learning sessions to gain exposure to Lean thinking, project management, and high-reliability operations.
Engage in mentorship and shadowing opportunities with Quality Department leaders, operational leaders, and faculty.
Collaborate with students and professionals from Industrial & Operations Engineering, Public Health, Business, and other disciplines.
Build skills in interpreting data, asking effective questions, and applying improvement principles in a healthcare environment.
10% Client Relationship Management
Build and maintain strong working relationships with project clients, including department leaders, clinicians, and administrative partners.
Demonstrate professionalism, credibility, confidentiality, and follow-through.
Contribute to the refinement of QI/PM tools, templates, and internal processes.
Share insights, learning, and project results through presentations, discussions, or written summaries.
5% Additional Responsibilities
Perform other duties as assigned to support PMO and Quality Department priorities.
Required Qualifications*
Ability to reliably attend virtual meetings and work on-site as needed.
Strong interest in healthcare operations, quality improvement, analytics, project management, or systems engineering.
Enrollment in or recent completion of a Bachelor?s or Master?s program in Industrial & Operations Engineering, Public Health, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively in a complex, change-oriented environment.
Detail-oriented with the ability to organize and structure work in an evolving or ambiguous setting.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and willingness to learn additional tools.
Desired Qualifications*
Prior internship or experience using industrial engineering, continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or project management methodologies.
Familiarity with project management concepts such as scope, risk, schedule, and stakeholder management.
Experience with information management software, including Microso