ITUP Internships: Empowering Future Health Policy Leaders
ITUP Building the Future of Health Policy Leaders
The ITUP Health Policy Internship Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in health policy research and analysis. Through direct engagement with ITUP’s team, interns contribute to projects that shape health care access and equity in California.
Interns play a key role in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and publication development, helping to inform and advance solutions in the health care system. They may contribute to:
- Legislative Tracking & Policy Research – Monitoring health policy developments and analyzing their impact.
- Publication Development – Assisting in the creation of policy briefs and reports.
- Event Coordination – Supporting ITUP’s regional collaboratives and annual conference, engaging directly with industry leaders and policymakers.
The program also provides mentorship and networking opportunities, allowing interns to connect with health policy professionals and gain exposure to critical topics such as Medi-Cal, health system transformation, and community-based solutions. Through this experience, interns develop a deeper understanding of California’s health care landscape while strengthening their research, communication, and policy analysis skills.
Learn about our 2024-2025 interns!
During her time at ITUP, Akunna has had the incredible opportunity to deepen her understanding of key health policy issues, including AI/digital health, maternal health, and workforce development. She has engaged with stakeholders dedicated to expanding healthcare access across California and contributed to meaningful discussions on shaping policy solutions.
Through research, team collaboration, and conference preparation, Akunna gained valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities in advancing health policy. Currently pursuing a Master’s of Public Policy at UC Irvine, she will graduate in June 2025 and plans to continue working in health policy—focusing on maternal health equity in California.
Read Akunna’s contributed fact sheet at ITUP!
We appreciate Akunna’s hard work and dedication to improving healthcare access and equity!
Sumaira Akbarzada,
Since January 2024, Sumaira has been an invaluable part of the ITUP team, gaining hands-on experience in key health policy initiatives shaping California. She has contributed to two major publications—one focused on transforming behavioral health services within California’s jail systems and another addressing the state’s health care specialty workforce shortages.
Beyond research, Sumaira played a crucial role in data collection, assisted with speaker preparation for the Annual ITUP Conference, and contributed to the event’s overall success. Her time at ITUP has strengthened her commitment to working with policymakers to advance health initiatives after completing her doctoral program in Health Policy and Leadership.
In the near future, Sumaira will focus on her dissertation research, exploring the role of doulas in California and the impact of CalAIM on doula services. She also plans to continue collaborating with organizations dedicated to improving health policy across the state.
Read Sumaira’s contributed fact sheet at ITUP!
We are so grateful for Sumaira’s dedication and contributions to the ITUP mission!