Overview
In this externship program, students will learn strategic consulting skills to analyze and evaluate challenges from non-profit organizations using consulting frameworks, in an overall effort to help them solve their important problems. Selected individuals will be paired with a specific non-profit organization and dive into their strategic problems, such as development, impact assessment, process improvements, talent engagement, communication, and strategic positioning. Throughout this externship program, professionals from PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) will provide mentorship and coaching.
The Experience
- Learn about the strategy consulting process and how to help create value for a non-profit client based on their vision and mission
- Research and develop an understanding of a given field
- Analyze complex problems ranging from fundraising and development, stakeholder management, impact measurement, as well as use consulting frameworks to help identify problem areas and propose solutions
- Learn to gather, analyze, and visualize data to inform problem areas and possible solutions
- Create and deliver a compelling presentation to a non-profit client that incorporates valuable insights, trends, and recommendations
Qualifications
- Ambitious undergraduate students with an interest in consulting, strategy, and non-profits. This program is for students who would like to understand the consulting profession while generating ideas to help impact non-profit organizations.
Overview
Healthcare is at a crossroads. Patients wait too long for critical care, medical teams are stretched thin, and inefficiencies in clinic operations create real challenges for those who need help the most. Behind every delay is a system that can be improved.
The Stanford Medicine Business Process Design Externship is your chance to tackle these challenges head-on. Over eight weeks, you’ll explore real clinic workflows, identify inefficiencies, and redesign processes to improve patient care. You’ll also prototype a digital tool to support faster, better decision-making—directly impacting the lives of patients and medical professionals alike.
This isn’t just an externship. It’s a chance to transform healthcare.
What You’ll Work On
- Business Process Analysis – Map out workflows and identify inefficiencies in real clinical settings.
- Stakeholder Mapping & Interviews – Understand the roles and responsibilities of clinic staff across departments.
- Root Cause Analysis – Use tools like the 5 Whys and Fishbone Diagrams to uncover the causes of delays or miscommunications.
- Redesign Workflows – Create new, optimized processes to improve the flow of care and reduce operational bottlenecks.
- Prototype a Digital Tool – Develop a simple decision-support dashboard to help clinic teams streamline their processes.
Explore Key Concepts & Skills
- Business Process Analysis & Customer-Centric Operations
- Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram)
- Decision-Making Frameworks (Decision Trees, Impact vs. Effort Matrix)
- Healthcare Guidelines & Workflow Optimization (KDIGO, KDOQI, CMS)
- Digital Transformation in Healthcare
- Change Management (Kotter’s 8-Step Model)
- Prototyping Tools for Web-Based Dashboards
- Data-Driven Strategy for Operational Efficiency
What’s Waiting for You
- Real-World Impact – Work on actual problems faced by Stanford’s nephrology clinics across the Bay Area, including Palo Alto, the VA, and Santa Clara County.
- Professional Network – Connect with physicians, administrators, and healthcare consultants from one of the world’s leading medical institutions.
- Cross-Disciplinary Skill Building – Combine healthcare, tech, operations, and human-centered design in a single high-impact project.
- Portfolio-Ready Project – Build a case study and working prototype that demonstrates your problem-solving skills and consulting mindset.
Why This Is Perfect for You
- You are currently enrolled in a community college in the United States.
- You are passionate about healthcare innovation, consulting, process design, or digital transformation.
- You want hands-on experience tackling real-world problems and designing solutions that make a difference.
- You seek a flexible, remote externship that builds technical and strategic skills.
- You are eager to contribute to meaningful healthcare improvements—and learn from one of the best institutions in the world.
Take the first step toward a career in consulting, healthcare strategy, or operations design—apply now to make a real impact with Stanford Medicine.
Overview
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