Community Health Internship Program (CHIP)
COMPACT’s Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) provides impactful internship opportunities for Brandeis undergraduate students committed to advancing population health in Waltham. In summer 2026, we are pleased to partner with five extraordinary community-based organizations.
Recognizing that the social determinants of health are embedded in the places where we live, work, play, and raise our families, CHIP offers an innovative, place-based, mentored, team internship model. Throughout the summer, all interns will meet weekly, as a team, with Professors Sara Shostak and Darren Zinner. Team meetings will provide you with structured opportunities for reflection, skill building, and professional development. They will also allow us to think together, as a team, about what you are learning about the social determinants of health in Waltham, from the perspective of the organization where you are working and the population that it serves.
CHIP interns will receive $4,500 as a stipend for 200 hours of work over 8 weeks (this includes the hours spent in team meetings). Practically, this means that you will be at your internship site for ~22 hours/week, though the days/times will vary based on the projects and programs you are engaging. CHIP will begin on June 15, 2026.
While all CHIP internships focus on the social determinants of health, they include very different projects! For each, you will have access to support from faculty and staff at Brandeis, as well as at the host organizations.
CHIP is generously supported by the Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice, which supports a wide range of activities that reflect the University's commitment to social justice.
Please read more about each CHIP 2026 opportunity below:
Application Information
Applications for CHIP 2026 are due February 9, 2026. (If you are having trouble opening the link, please log into your Brandeis account.)
2025 CHIP Interns
"The first time I read about Waltham Fields Community Farm, their mission resonated deeply with my life purpose and I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with peers and mentorship in service of community health." - Erin Hunt '26
"I chose CHIP to be able to play a role in providing equal opportunities in the Waltham community." - Maya Krishana '26
"I chose CHIP because it gives me the chance to pour into a community the same way others have poured into mine. All while simultaneously growing into the kind of healthcare provider who treats illness, uplifts and advocates for people whose voices are too often ignored, and ultimately heals souls." - Anaisha Moya '27
"I chose CHIP because it would help further my knowledge and engagement within the Waltham community, learn and apply new skills, and interact with passionate, like-minded individuals who want to make positive impacts on the world." - Sydney Feld '26
Zahria Questelles will be working as a CHIP intern this summer at Charles River Community Health. She will be working directly with CRCH staff and patients to help connect members of our community with existing resources and support them in receiving the healthcare they need.