IHS Extern Program (Section 105)
The IHS Extern Program, authorized under Section 105 of the IHCIA, is designed to give IHS scholars and other health profession students the opportunity to gain clinical experience with IHS and Tribal health professionals in their chosen discipline. This program is open to IHS scholars and non-scholars. Students are employed up to 120 days annually, with most students working during the summer months. In FY 2015, the Extern Program funded a total of 124 student externs. There were 108 summer and 16 winter externs. A total of 120 students were health profession students and 25 (20 percent) were American Indian/Alaska Native. The following health disciplines were funded in FY 2015:
| Discipline | Externs |
|---|---|
| Pre-Medical Technology | 2 |
| Pre-Pharmacy | 1 |
| Pre-Medicine | 1 |
| Total | 4 |
| Discipline | Externs | Discipline | Externs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychology | 2 | Physician | 2 |
| Dentist | 8 | Physical Therapy | 1 |
| Engineering | 10 | Podiatry | 1 |
| Environmental Health | 1 | Sanitarian | 6 |
| Medical Technology | 2 | Social Work | 2 |
| Nurse | 29 | X-Ray Technology | 2 |
| Optometry | 3 | Total | 120 |
| Pharmacy | 51 |
Students apply for positions in specific Areas. Funding for each Area is based on the availability of positions and number of extern applicants.
| Area | Externs | Area | Externs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 9 | Navajo | 19 |
| Albuquerque | 2 | Oklahoma City | 24 |
| Bemidji | 16 | Phoenix | 15 |
| Billings | 11 | Portland | 7 |
| California | 4 | Tucson | 4 |
| Great Plains | 12 | Total | 124 |
| Nashville | 1 |
To learn more, visit the IHS Extern Program.
