The Gregory S. Fehribach Center empowers Indiana college students with physical disabilities to find gainful, sustainable and equitable employment by engaging qualified students in comprehensive and diverse internship opportunities that build skills, confidence and work history to maximize competitiveness in the workforce. Students participating in the internship program are provided a barrier-free opportunity to build skills in their areas of interest, enhance their résumés with practical work experience and increase their overall confidence levels in the workplace. The goal of the Gregory S. Fehribach Center is to assist students in being better prepared for full-time employment after graduation.
Created in 2013 as a partnership between Eskenazi Health and Ball State University, the Gregory S. Fehribach Center has broadened to include additional postsecondary institutions and employers. To this point, 77 students from 24 colleges and universities have received internships through the center. While Eskenazi Health has hosted the majority of students, other employers such as Eli Lilly and Company, Old National Bank, the State of Indiana, Health and Science Innovations, and the Lumina Foundation have also hosted interns.
The Gregory S. Fehribach Center offers eight-week internships in the summer, fall and spring. These are paid, full-time internships in fields related to the student’s major, with housing and transportation assistance offered when needed. Interns are matched with programs/departments that align with their academic pursuits, interests and/or career goals. Previous interns have worked in such diverse areas as:
- Rehabilitation services
- Public affairs
- Information technology
- Grants
- Social work
- Orthopaedics
- Primary care
- Business operations
- Audiology
- Clinical education
- Biomedical engineering
- Human resources
- Supply chain management
- Transgender health
Qualifications to participate in an internship with the Gregory S. Fehribach Center:
- Current college student (or graduate within the last year) at an Indiana postsecondary institution or an Indiana high school graduate attending college at an institution out of state
- Have a physical disability (mobility, orthopaedic, visual or hearing)
- A competitive grade point average
- An updated résumé and cover letter
- Three letters of reference from faculty members, supervisors or a person who can speak about the candidate’s work ethic and attitude
- Applications for the 2020 summer internship are due by January 31, 2020. To apply, email application materials to Fehribach Center director Larry Markle (larry.markle@eskenazihealth.edu).
