Building connections: Children’s National celebrates summer interns

Children’s National Hospital celebrated its summer student interns with a casual and well-attended Ice Cream Social, offering ice cream and a chance to build community. Hosted in the early afternoon on the hospital’s scenic fifth floor—offering sweeping views of Washington, D.C.—the event provided a fun, low-pressure environment for interns to connect with each other and with hospital staff. 

The student interns hailed from a variety of educational backgrounds and programs. Some were local high school students, while others were undergraduates or rising seniors from colleges and universities across the country. A few were nearing the end of their academic journeys and looking ahead to medical school or full-time roles in healthcare. Despite differences in age and experience, the interns bonded, chatting over bowls of ice cream and sharing stories about their time at Children’s National.

The event opened with brief remarks from program organizers, who thanked the interns for their contributions and dedication over the summer. They underscored the importance of nurturing young talent in healthcare and science, noting that the future of medicine and research would rest on the shoulders of the next generation. Organizers also went through a brief roll call of the schools and programs represented in the room, prompting cheers and applause as students recognized their peers. 

Following the welcome remarks, the social shifted into a vibrant networking session. Rather than sticking to their original seats, interns took the initiative to walk around, introduce themselves and strike up conversations with new faces. Some discussed their research or clinical experiences; others exchanged contact info to stay in touch beyond the program.                                                   

The atmosphere was upbeat and collaborative—full of laughter, curiosity, and shared purpose. Whether interns were discussing career goals, favorite projects or simply their go-to ice cream toppings, the social served as a joyful reminder of the power of connection. It was clear that beyond professional growth, the summer internship experience at Children’s National was creating lasting memories. 
When asked about her experience, George Washington University student Sydney Hillman said that she felt like being at Children’s National gave her a lot of industry exposure sharing, “Yeah so this is our third week and we’re starting a new program and it’s been a great experience not only for us to learn but [joining an] exciting new chapter for the organization. We love how the program is set up.”  

Her peer and fellow GW student Hope Kim added: ”I think it’s a great way to get a better understanding of how a hospital operates realistically because we get the lens of the administrative, executive side and then we’re going in layers, so we met all the c-suite but now we are meeting the directors of departments. So, you’re getting a really great sense of how every piece interplays together.” 
When asked about how they felt about the event itself, they said it was a great event, and they liked seeing how students from all over the nation came together to be interns at Children’s National Hospital. They added that they thought it would help the next generation of healthcare leaders by giving them a chance to network despite some of their young ages.  

By the end of the event, it was clear that the students not only appreciated the chance to network but had appreciated their time so far being summer interns at Children’s National Hospital, paving the way for the future of healthcare.