2026 C Cohort Program Requirements

Thank you for your interest in the Pathmaker Internship! As you prepare to apply for the upcoming 2026 C cohort, you will need to know the important clearance & orientation information found in this packet.

The recruitment requirements and processes for the 2026 C Application Cycle are as follows: 

• We will be accepting applications for both our Level I (High School) and Level II (College/Adult) programs.  

• The application window will be open until June 20 or when the required number of highly qualified applicants is reached. As a result, the application window may close sooner than the allotted 3 weeks. 

• All interviews will be conducted virtually, which requires that applicants have access to a laptop/desktop with a working camera, microphone and reliable internet connection. 

• If accepted to the Pathmaker Internship, candidates will need to attend a mandatory preboarding orientation on August 4 at 11am and August 6 at 4pm PST. Failure to attend the preboard orientation will result in being dropped from candidacy, and you will need to reapply to the next rotation.

You will confirm on your application that you have read and understand the information below.  

Pathmaker Contacts

Email is the best way to reach us if you have any questions. Please send any inquiries regarding the application and interview process to PathmakerInfo@PUCSD.org. 

Pathmaker Management Team
Daniel Bustamante
Pipeline Career Services Supervisor Student Placements, Internships & Externships
Daniel.Bustamante@PUCSD.org

Internship Overview

All accepted applicants must:

• Have a valid Social Security Number and be able to pass a background check 

• Speak and read English 

• Have reliable transportation to and from Escondido and Poway 

• Pay a one-time, non-refundable $150 onboarding fee (more information in the acceptance email) 

• Have daily access to your personal e-mail account 

• • Gmail is highly recommended 
  • Yahoo, Hotmail and school e-mail accounts encounter issues with reliability 
  • Regardless of your e-mail account provider, you are responsible for all internship-related communications and deadlines 

Unfortunately, current Palomar UC San Diego Health employees and affiliates are not eligible to apply to this program. 

Internship Opportunities:

• We have placements for the High School and College/Adult internships at both hospital campuses: 
  • Palomar Medical Center — Escondido 
  • Palomar Medical Center — Poway 
• In addition, we have a number of satellite locations throughout North County 

Internship Structure:

• Each year is broken up into three 4-month rotations, where interns will spend each rotation in one department serving their weekly shifts. Every rotation, interns have the opportunity to join new departments. 

• Each department has specific learning objectives that the intern must meet in the course of their time in the department. 

Level III Medical Interpreting:

• The Level III Medical Interpreting program is available for interns fluent in Spanish to act as a liaison for communicating between patients and their healthcare providers. 

• If you are interested in becoming a Level III Medical Interpreter, please indicate your fluency on your internship application and watch for our recruitment emails during your first rotation as a Pathmaker Intern. 

Acceptance and Declination Notifications

All applicants will be notified of acceptance or declination by 5pm Friday, July 31, 2026. If you do not receive a notification email, first check your spam folder, and then email us at PathmakerInfo@PUCSD.org  by 5pm Saturday, August 1, 2026 to request a notification email. If we do not hear from you by the deadline, you will be asked to re-apply for a future cohort. to request a notification email. If we do not hear from you by the deadline, you will be asked to re-apply for a future cohort. 

Health and Immunization Clearance

The Pathmaker Internship is committed to protecting the health of our interns, staff and patients.  As a Pathmaker Intern, you will get the opportunity to provide direct patient care, which comes with exposure to various contagious diseases. With that responsibility, you must fulfill specific health requirements prior to attending training.

*If the 10-year period for your Tdap dose ends on or before July 31, 2026, you are required to submit documentation of a newer dose. 

 Required immunizations listed above are subject to change based on federal, state and local regulations. 

Mandatory Orientation and Skills Days Events

Please ensure you are available to attend the following 2026 C Orientation and Skills Days dates in person: 

Mandatory Pre-boarding Orientation: August 4 & August 6, 2026 

Health Clearance Day: September 19,  2026

In–Person Skills Day: October 3, 2026

Department-Specific Orientation & Training: October 2026

*Dates and times are subject to change 

Actual dates will be communicated to accepted interns. Although some dates may change, please be available during the months listed above. New interns are not eligible to take any leave from the internship of more than 14 days during the entirety of the first rotation (November 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027)

CPR Certification — BLS Provider

Interns are required to have active CPR certification through the American Heart Association (AHA). To comply with Palomar UC San Diego Health policy, the certification must be BLS Provider, and must be from the American Heart Association; third-party CPR certifications are not acceptable. 

We HIGHLY recommend that intern candidates find their own certification site. Please make sure you give yourself enough time to find a CPR certification site.    

NOTE: Heartsaver certification is not the same as BLS Provider certification. Your certification card MUST say BLS Provider on it, and will look similar to one of these:

Pathmaker Intern Job Summary and Job Requirements

Job Summary 

Under the direct supervision of the Manager & Supervisor – Pipeline Career Services, the Pathmaker intern gains hands-on experience working alongside Palomar UC San Diego Health staff members, assisting in the provision of patient care and performance of administrative and support services. The Pathmaker intern will gain first-hand knowledge of the various career opportunities in healthcare and develop insight into the healthcare system by rotating through different departments every four months. The Pathmaker intern may provide direct patient care under the direction of Palomar UC San Diego Health staff members to include assistance in the provision of a safe, comfortable and confidential environment.  

Ability to speak and read English at a level that is sufficient to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the position. Performs other duties as assigned. Follows Palomar UC San Diego Health rules, policies, procedures, applicable laws and standards. Carries out the mission, vision and quality commitment of Palomar UC San Diego Health. 

Job Expectations 

Ability to speak and read English at a level that is sufficient to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the position. Performs other duties as assigned. Follow Palomar UC San Diego Health rules, policies, procedures, applicable laws and standards. Carries out the mission, vision and quality commitment of Palomar UC San Diego Health. 

 Job Requirements 

• Minimum Education: Level I interns must be high school students and 16 years of age or older. Level II interns must be high school graduates and 18 years of age or older.
• Preferred Education: Not Applicable
• Minimum Experience: Not Applicable
• Preferred Experience: Not Applicable
• Required License: Not Applicable
• Preferred License: Not Applicable
• Required Certification: American Heart Association recognized BLS – Healthcare Provider
• Preferred Certification: Not Applicable

Physical Demands 

 Visual Requirements 

 Mental Demands 

 Working Conditions 

 Personal Protective Equipment Required