MSK Musculoskeletal Health Partners
In San Diego, California
We prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals through immersive, hands-on training in real clinical environments across San Diego. From high school students exploring medicine for the first time to pre-med, pre-PA, and aspiring surgeons seeking operating room exposure; our programs offer direct access to active medical practices, personalized mentorship from practicing physicians, and a clear pathway to building the clinical knowledge, professional skills, and confidence needed for a lasting career in healthcare.
Career
Pathway
Your training fee is an investment, not a cost. New participants begin as MA trainees and pay a weekly training fee. Once promoted to a paid intern position, you earn $17.25/hr, and top performers continue advancing through a structured promotion track with raises every step of the way.
STEP 1:
MA Trainee
Intensive clinical skills acquisition and protocol learning.
INVESTMENT PAY
STEP 2:
Intern
Independent patient care and clinic flow management.
YOU WILL GET PAID
STEP 3:
Head Intern
Training new MAs and managing complex clinic operations.
YOU WILL GET PAID
STEP 4:
Lead
Full clinic management, strategic planning, and provider support.
YOU WILL GET PAID
Lead Wage Progression
As a Lead, your compensation grows with your tenure and expanding responsibilities over a 2-year period.
MA Trainee
$125/week training fee
In Office
Room a patient and take vital signs after observations, under intern supervision and with patient permission
Remove sutures and staples after observations, with patient permission
Scribe patient clinic consults under intern/lead supervision
Review scribed notes with a provider
In Operating Room
Shadow in the OR after completing OR etiquette training
Attend cadaver labs and grand rounds
Attend academic dinners and reunions with physicians
Scholarships & financial assistance
We award scholarships to top performers at the end of their first month. We also consider financial assistance for incoming applicants who show exceptional promise but cannot afford the program fee. If that is you, do not let cost stop you from applying, tell us your story in your letter of interest.
Intern
$17.25/hr
Responsibilities
- Actively participate in clinic and surgery tasks
- Assist with patient care and procedures under supervision
- Answer calls and schedule patient appointments
- Scribe consult notes during medical evaluations
- Draft operative reports
- Schedule surgeries including preop clearance and insurance authorizations
- Eligible for academic credit
- Can join research papers, grants, cadaver labs, and spine conferences
Head Intern
$19/hr
Responsibilities
- Supervise and coordinate intern tasks
- Assist in preparing clinic and surgery performance reports
- Ensure smooth workflow between interns and other departments
- Provide leadership and guidance to interns
- Review consult notes scribed by interns
- Review operative report drafts done by interns
Leads
$21–$30/hr with structured raises
Responsibilities
- Oversee and coordinate all activities in the clinic or surgery department
- Manage scheduling, workflow, and task allocation within their department
- Ensure the department runs efficiently and effectively
- Present performance reports in weekly meetings to providers for evaluation of the department
Available exclusively during the summer term, this program gives pre-medical and pre-PA students deeper exposure to active clinical settings and surgical shadowing, with more hours, more immersion, and more opportunities than the standard rotation.
Program Duration and Fees
JOB DURATION
WEEKLY RATE
PRICE
1 Week
$395/week
$395
2 Weeks
$348/week
$695
3 Weeks
$283/week
$850
4 Weeks
$225/week
$900
This extended time in clinic or shadowing surgeries allows students to maximize their learning experience and engage in activities such as research projects, cadaver labs, and spine conferences.
Program Dates
The Summer Internship Program is available throughout the following time frame. Applicants may choose any start date within this window.
START DATE
June 20th
END DATE
September 15th
What's included
Hands-on time in clinic or surgical shadowing
Research project participation
Cadaver labs
Spine conferences
Close interaction with healthcare professionals across specialties
Requirements
To participate in the Summer Internship Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Apply and pay at least 4 weeks before your start date
Provide the following documents:
- CV/Resume
- Letter of Interest
- Letter of Recommendation
Grand rounds presentation at end of rotation
Observe spine and orthopedic surgeries performed by expert surgeons at multiple hospitals across the San Diego area. This program is strictly observational, no hands-on involvement with patients or procedures.
Neurosurgery and orthopedics focus
Spine and orthopedic procedures
Multiple hospital locations across San Diego
Surgical observation opportunities at multiple facilities across the San Diego area.
Flexible duration
Start with one week, extend based on availability
Strictly observational
No hands-on patient involvement
How It Works
STEP 1
Choose Your Schedule
Select your preferred week(s) based on available surgeries and your personal schedule.
STEP 2
Submit Application
Applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance for hospital permissions processing.
STEP 3
Complete Fees
Program Fee
$300
for 4 shadowing sessions
A non-refundable $50 application fee is required to cover administrative costs.
Who can apply
Pre-med and pre-PA students
Healthcare professionals seeking surgical exposure
Anyone interested in neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery
Requirements
Vaccination records (up to date)
Negative TB test (within the last year)
Provide the following documents:
- CV/Resume
- Letter of Interest
- Letter of Recommendation
ID photo (for hospital credentialing)
IMPORTANT NOTE
Hospital access is subject to approval by each facility. If a hospital does not authorize shadowing for a specific surgery, that session cannot be guaranteed.
A two-week clinical shadowing experience designed for high school students curious about careers in medicine. Participants observe outpatient clinic settings across neurosurgery and internal medicine practices in San Diego.
What you'll experience
Observe patient consultations and clinic workflow
Interact with physicians, PAs, and clinical staff
Exposure to neurosurgery and internal medicine specialties
Understand the day-to-day of an active medical practice
Program’s Details
P R I C E
$1,500
2 Weeks Program Fee
Certificate of completion awarded at the end
Strictly observational
no hands-on patient interaction
Setting
Outpatient clinic
neurosurgery and internal medicine, San Diego, CA
Requirements
Parent or guardian signed consent form
Proof of current high school enrollment
Vaccination records (up to date)
Negative TB test (within the last year)
Provide the following documents:
- Letter of interest (why are you interested in healthcare?)
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor
Copy of student or school ID
HIPAA training — completed before start date (provided by our program)
IMPORTANT NOTE
All participants must be currently enrolled in high school. A parent or guardian signature is required on all program documents.
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Our Mentors
SDNeurosurgery is Dr. Kevin Yoo’s practice, with 20+ years of experience in San Diego and a holistic approach to advanced spine and brain care. Dr. Yoo and the SDN team deliver personalized treatment using modern techniques and compassionate support from consultation through recovery.
Kevin Yoo, MD
United States
Dr. White provides expert neurosurgical care for brain, spine, and nervous system conditions. The SBNS team delivers personalized treatment using the latest technology to help patients regain health and improve quality of life.
Daniel White, MD
United States
Dr. Kern Brar provides personalized primary care and wellness services. Lien-based urgent care 24/7 for personal injury cases via telemedicine or in-person visits. Dedicated attending physician services for Skilled Nursing Facility patients.
Kern Brar, MD
United States
Dr. Marsh’s Chiropractic Corporation offers comprehensive, team-based care including chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage. Their bilingual team provides personalized treatment plans focused on mobility, pain relief, and long-term wellness.
Paul Marsh, D.C., Q.M.E.
United States
What did our interns say?
A structured, hands-on clinical training experience in active San Diego medical practices, designed to prepare you for medical or PA school with real skills, real mentorship, and a clear path to a paid position.
I’ve had a very positive experience interning at the neurosurgery office. The team has been welcoming, professional, and supportive, and I’ve learned a great deal about patient care, clinical workflow, and the importance of communication in a medical setting. I appreciate the opportunity to observe and contribute in such a collaborative environment, and this experience has further strengthened my interest in the healthcare field.
Alexis Taing
Internship
I began my journey at MSK MSO as an MA Trainee, where I was first introduced to the clinical side of healthcare. Over time, I had the opportunity to cross-train across multiple specialties, including primary care, physical therapy, and neurosurgery, which broadened both my clinical knowledge and perspective on patient care. As I continued to grow through these experiences, I was promoted to Intern and now serve as a Head Intern, allowing me to further develop my leadership and mentorship skills.
Through MSK MSO, I have built meaningful connections with numerous physicians and gained unique hands-on experiences, including the opportunity to work in a cadaver lab. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, mentorship, and experiences that MSK MSO has provided me throughout my journey.
Ana McKenna
Internship
I started this internship during the fall semester of my senior year of college, and three years later I now serve as a full-time lead at San Diego Neurosurgery. The experience has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth, giving me hands-on exposure through placing pedicle screws in a cadaver lab, joining providers for rounding consults, and scrubbing in for surgeries. I've also grown into a leadership role mentoring interns who were once in the same position I started in, while building close relationships with patients through continuity of care.
This internship offers a unique avenue for students during their gap year to mature while preparing for medical school applications, surrounded by peers facing similar challenges like the MCAT, gaining clinical experience, and navigating the application cycle. As I prepare to apply to medical school this cycle, I can confidently say this internship provided the foundation that strengthened my application, and I would highly recommend it to any student seeking meaningful clinical exposure, mentorship, and growth.
Cameron Patton
Internship
I've been with MSK MSO for the past 9 months, starting as an MA trainee at SDN, and working at SDN has been such a great experience overall. The environment is really supportive and I've had the chance to learn so much by rotating through different specialties like neurosurgery, internal medicine, chiropractic care, and physical therapy.
Being exposed to all these areas has helped me build a strong foundation in patient care and understand how different providers work together to treat patients. I've also developed important skills like communicating with patients, assisting in clinical settings, and thinking more critically in real patient situations. Overall, it's been an amazing learning experience that has really helped me grow and prepare for a future in healthcare.
Nadia Wisal
Internship
Research Program
The MSK MSO Research Group focuses on clinical research in various medical specialties of neurosurgical care, primary care, and pain management.
Led by principal investigators Dr. Kevin Yoo and Dr. Brar, our team includes students, physicians, and researchers who utilize a multidisciplinary approach in clinical and translational research to work towards optimizing patient outcomes and improving treatment efficacy.
