Internship Programs

The UNC Health Pharmacy Internship Program was established to provide UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy students with a comprehensive learning experience and to provide exposure to hospital and health system pharmacy practice. The programs offer students an opportunity to work and learn in a variety of health system pharmacy settings while supplementing classroom learning.

Intern programs vary in duration from 1-3 years, depending on program and intern, though most are 2 years in duration.

The internship programs will allow the student interns to grow both professionally and personally, through interaction with health care professionals and support of projects that align with department initiatives.

Requirements

Eligible applicants must be enrolled and in good standing at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. positions are available for PY1 and/or PY2 students, depending on each individual program. Please see individual program details to find additional information and eligibility information

Stipend/Pay

Interns are hired at the health system as pharmacy technicians, and are paid according to our HR pay scales. Individual internship directors are responsible for managing time requirements and payments for intern hours.

Application Cycle/Recruitment

The routine recruitment cycle begins in October; please check back in the fall for updates.

Applicants may apply to a maximum of 2 programs
Requires a CV, answers to 2 essay questions, and one (1) letter of reference to be emailed to the internship director

New Critical Care Pharmacy Internship Program

Requires a CV, answers to 2 essay questions, and one (1) letter of reference to be emailed to the internship director
Application open February 2, 2026 until 11:59 PM on February 20, 2026

2026-2027 Critical Care Pharmacy Internship Application

Acute Care Clinical Services (Cardiology, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Psychiatry/Neurology)

Internship Directors: Theresa Kline (Cardiology), Brian McKinzie (Critical Care), Miranda Stratton and J. Cameron Mitchell (Psychiatry/Neuro), Angela Perhac (Infectious Diseases)

Number of interns: recruiting for 3 this year
- Cardiology: 1
- Critical Care: 1
- Infectious Disease: 1
- Psychiatry: 1
Eligible Applicants: Current PY2
Hours/Weeks during School Year:
- Approximately 4 hours
- Staffing: Every 3rd weekend at Medication History Services
Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
- 8 week experience during the summer following PY2
- Staffing: Every 3rd weekend at Medication History Services
Commitment: 1 year
Available opportunities: Clinical projects, Shadowing, Research, Professional development
Cardiology Internship: Learn More
Critical Care Internship: Learn More

Acute Care Pharmacy Operations & Medication Safety

Internship Director: Erna Sabin, PharmD, MBA
Number of Interns: recruiting for 2 this year

Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
Hours/Weeks during School Year:
- Project Time: 4 hours per week, flexible to course schedules
- Staffing: Every other weekend in Central Inpatient Pharmacy (CIP) or Sterile Products Area (SPA)
Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:

- Summer after PY1 Year: 2-months full time training, with built-in shadowing opportunities
- Summer after PY2 Year: 2-months, 40 hours per week project work
- Staffing: Every other weekend in Central Inpatient Pharmacy (CIP) or Sterile Products Area (SPA)
Commitment: 2 years
Available opportunities: Medication safety initiatives, acute care pharmacy operations experience, exposure to supply chain management and drug shortages, professional development, interview shadowing and longitudinal projects
Learn More.

Community Pharmacy Administration & Leadership

Internship Directors: Leroy Van Veld, PharmD; Samantha Aston, PharmD
- Number of interns: 2 total (recruiting for 1 this year)
  - Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
  - Commitment: 2 years (summer after PY1 year through end of PY3 year)
  - Staffing
    - During school breaks:
      - Summer before PY2 Year: 40 hours/week (on-boarding)
      - Summer before PY3 Year: flexible
    - During school year: 4 hours per week (projects)
    - Weekends/Holidays (year-round): Every 3rd weekend, including one major holiday and one minor holiday; additional shifts available
  - Available opportunities: Outpatient Projects, Administrative Projects, Longitudinal Research, Quality Improvement Projects, Shadowing, Professional Development
Learn More

Clinic Based Ambulatory Care Pharmacy

Internship Director: Alissa Clayton, PharmD, CPP
- Number of Interns: 3 total, recruiting for 1 this year
  - Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
  - Hours/Weeks during School Year:
    - 8-12 hours per week
  - Staffing: 4 hours per week in Enhanced Care Program (ECP)
  - Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
    - 40 hours per week
  - Commitment: 2 years
  - Available opportunities: Clinical projects, Shadowing, Research, Professional development
Learn More

Enterprise Pharmacy Business Operations

Internship Director: Robert P. Granko, PharmD, MBA, FASHP
- Number of Interns: not recruiting this cycle
  - Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
  - Hours/Weeks during School Year:
    - 5-8 hours per week
  - Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
    - >10 hours per week
  - Commitment: 2 years
  - Available opportunities: Enterprise Pharmacy Finance, Business Operations, Retail Pharmacy, 340B, Specialty Pharmacy projects
Learn More

Hematology-Oncology Team

Internship Director: Elizabeth Tinoco, PharmD, MS
- Number of Interns: 4 (recruiting for 2 this year)
  - Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
  - Hours/Weeks during School Year:
    - 4-6 hours per week for clinical experience
    - Staffing: Every 3rd weekend in Cancer Hospital Infusion Pharmacy (CHIP)
  - Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
    - Summer: 40 hours per week
    - Staffing: Every 3rd weekend in Cancer Hospital Infusion Pharmacy (CHIP); included in yearly holiday rotation with CHIP technician team
  - Commitment: 2 years until end of PY3 year
  - Available opportunities: Clinical support, competency in hazardous compounding techniques, project management, professional development opportunities
Learn More

Managed Care Pharmacy

Internship Director: Marina Stamopoulos
- Number of Interns: 4 (recruiting for 2 this year)
- Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
- Hours/week during School Year:
  - 8 hours/week while in class
  - 8 hours/month while on immersion rotation
- Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
  - Up to 40 hours/week
- Commitment: 2 years
- Available opportunities: Population Health/Ambulatory Care Clinical Projects and Shadowing, Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Projects Including Research, Clinical Program Development, Research Health Outcomes Program (RHOP), Professional Development, Administrative Projects
Learn More
- The internship is primarily project-based and allows students to explore various aspects of managed care pharmacy. Our program has four interns – two PY2s and two PY3s.
- Interns should demonstrate strength with the following skills: self-initiative, communication, flexibility, time management, efficiency, professionalism, collaboration
- Potential intern projects include: background research to support new clinical programs, literature reviews and summaries, formulary management initiatives, guideline and new drug updates, medication class reviews, prior authorization audits, regulatory/legislative reviews, drug inflation reporting, patient/provider education materials, drug information questions, clinic/medication impact analysis
- Location: Virtual (workspace available at UNC Morrisville Office; 1025 Think Place, Morrisville, NC)

Medication Use Policy

Internship Director: Gregory Heindel, PharmD, MPH

Number of interns: recruiting for 1 this year
- PY2/PY3: 1
Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
Hours/Weeks during School Year:
- 5-10 hours per week during hours of operation of the DI Center: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday through Friday
Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
- More than 10 hours per week (if desired)
Commitment: 2 years
Available opportunities: Formulary Management Projects, Research, Administrative Projects
Learn More

Pediatric Pharmacy

Internship Directors: Abbie Benfield, PharmD, BCPPS and Amanie Khairullah, PharmD, BCPPS, CPP
Pediatric Pharmacy Manager: Ali Ward, PharmD
- Number of Interns: 12
Eligible Applicants: Current PY1 or PY2
Hours/Weeks during School Year:
- Variable hours per week for projects
- Staffing: Every 3rd weekend in the Pediatric Pharmacy and one MAJOR winter holiday
Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
- Variable hours per week for projects
- Staffing: Every 3rd weekend in the Pediatric Pharmacy
Commitment: 2 years, opportunity for optional third year for interns that start during their PY2 Summer
Available opportunities: Technician Training and Competencies; Clinical, Operational, and Administrative Projects; Research Learning Series; Residency and Job Prep Series; Leadership Positions; 1:1 Quarterly Professional Development Meetings, Quarterly pharmacy administration topic discussions
Learn More

Pharmacy Analytics & Technology

Internship Director: Killian Rodgers, PharmD, MS

Number of interns:
- 1 PY2, 1 PY3
Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
Hours/Weeks during School Year:
- 6 ~ 8 hours per week
Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
- 20 ~ 40 hours per week
Commitment: 2 years
Available opportunities: Analytic Projects, Research, Administrative Projects
Learn More

Specialty Pharmacy Administration and Leadership

Internship Directors: Rachel Chiou, PharmD, MS, BCPS; Rachel Ross, PharmD, MS, BCPS, CSP; Meghan Smith, PharmD, BCPS
- Number of Interns: 2 total, recruiting for 1 this year
  - Eligible Applicants: Current PY1
  - Hours/Weeks during School Year:
    - 6-8 hours per week
  - Hours/Weeks during School Breaks:
    - Summer before PY2 Year: 40 hours/week (on-boarding)
    - Summer before PY3 Year: flexible
  - Commitment: 2 years (summer after PY1 year through end of PY3 year)
  - Available opportunities: Staffing in a specialty pharmacy, gaining experience with specialty medications and disease management, leading projects related to workflows and compliance, and gaining experience with medication access
  - Learn More