“Participating in the WAI externship was a profoundly meaningful experience both professionally and personally.”
– A 2024 student graduate of the WAI externship
2026 Applications Open Now
Each year, the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute (WAI) offers a summer externship available to first-year students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
The WAI Summer Externship offers practical skills every health care professional can use. Connect and learn from professionals in the fast-growing field of geriatrics and memory care. This is a paid, flexible education opportunity that can be completed in conjunction with other internships or research programs.
Starting in Summer 2025, the WAI externship program expanded to include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, thanks to the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) – Interprofessional Education Program (IPE) grant awarded in July 2024. This grant, in collaboration with UW–Madison/SMPH, Marquette University, Medical College of WI, Advocate Aurora and the Alzheimer’s Association, aims to enhance our educational interventions for health care staff who care for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Program Goals
The goal of this innovative program is to increase the knowledge and skills of future health care providers to provide long-term, interdisciplinary care to people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and to their families. At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Describe the diagnosis, treatment, and management of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
- Recognize the roles of a multidisciplinary team in dementia care.
- Identify common concerns of the person living with dementia and their families/caregiver(s).
- Discuss current memory research studies.
- Identify community resources to support persons living with dementia and their families to live in their homes for as long as possible
Program Activities
Students will job shadow with geriatricians, neurologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and others on the dementia diagnostic team to learn about the interdisciplinary approaches to caring for the geriatric population, particularly those with dementia, but also older patients with other chronic conditions. Students also spend time with other health care providers and learn more about community resources, such as adult day centers, senior centers, hospice care, and Adult Protective Services.
Medical Student Program Details
- Schedule: Part-time weekdays (approximately 15-20 hours), June – July 2026
- Duration: 8 weeks (two four-week periods)
- Eligible Participants: 3 first-year medical students at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Rotations: Memory diagnostic clinics located within Tribal, Tribal organizations, underserved, and/or rural (TTOUR) sites, as well as hybrid visits with community dementia-care providers to learn about other resources. A formal daily schedule is provided to each student.
Travel and Lodging: Students should expect to travel to various clinic sites, including ones outside of Dane County and in northern WI. Lodging in farther locations will be arranged and paid for by the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
Scholarship: $400/week (Please note: if there is a balance on your student account, the scholarship will automatically be applied to pay off that balance).
Important Upcoming Dates
- Applications Open Now
- Application deadline: March 24, 2026. Interviews will follow.
- Student selection into the program: No later than April 11, 2026
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- Informational Sessions for DNP and M1 students. Stop by, hear program details and chat with the program manager.
- Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
3:30-4:30 p.m.
School of Nursing, room 1231 - Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
2:45-3:30 p.m.
School of Nursing, room 1231
Questions? Please email Molly Schroeder, WAI Outreach Program Manager, for more information.
DNP Student Program Details
- Schedule: Part-time weekdays (approximately 15-20 hours), June – July 2026
- Duration: 8 weeks (two four-week periods)
- Eligible Participants: 3 first-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students
Rotations: Memory diagnostic clinics located within Tribal, Tribal organizations, underserved, and/or rural (TTOUR) sites, as well as hybrid visits with community dementia-care providers to learn about other resources. A formal daily schedule is provided to each student.
Travel and Lodging: Students should expect to travel to various clinic sites, including ones outside of Dane County and in northern WI. Lodging in farther locations will be arranged and paid for by the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
Scholarship: $400/week (Please note: if there is a balance on your student account, the scholarship will automatically be applied to pay off that balance).
Important Upcoming Dates
- Applications Open Now
- Informational Sessions for DNP and M1 students. Stop by, hear program details and chat with the program manager.
- Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
3:30-4:30 p.m.
School of Nursing, room 1231 - Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
2:45-3:30 p.m.
School of Nursing, room 1231
- Application deadline: March 24, 2026. Interviews will follow.
- Student selection into the program: No later than April 11, 2026
Questions? Please email Molly Schroeder, WAI Outreach Program Manager, for more information.
Testimonials from recent WAI summer externs
“Although I’ve had personal experience with caring for individuals with dementia, this externship has deepened my understanding of the diagnosis and its profound impact on patients and families, and the critical role that early detection, treatment, and support play in improving and maintaining quality of life. I discovered community resources I wish I’d known about years ago, which could have made a meaningful difference for my loved ones or others I have cared for. I have also gained valuable insight into the complexities of dementia and how to approach this multifaceted condition more effectively as a future provider. Beyond professional growth, this experience has sparked a genuine passion for dementia care and a commitment to remain actively involved in supporting patients and caregivers throughout my career.”
– 2025 Student Extern
“I found that the externship with WAI provided a brief, but deep dive into the lives of those impacted by dementia. Multiple in-person or virtual shadowing at memory clinics allowed me to experience first-hand what it might be like to work as a geriatrician or internist who sees older patients. We also experienced the expansive net of social support services available to patients and their families in Wisconsin. A major take-away for me was that the lives of dementia patients can still be beautiful, creative, and expressive, but in ways we must work to support. We interacted with experts in the field at the forefront of clinical innovations. By the end of the externship, I decided to add a new aim within my research program focused on Alzheimer’s disease patients. I am grateful to the organizers of the externship for their role in creating such an impactful program.” – A recent student extern
“Participating in the WAI externship was a profoundly meaningful experience both professionally and personally. I was able to learn from patients, caregivers, and entire care teams to better understand multiple dimensions of dementia. We engaged with emerging research, current community resources, as well as the future of dementia care in Wisconsin. It furthered by desire to work in psychiatry and I know the insights shared with me during these past weeks will inform my future career in many ways. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to see how fulfilling it is to work in dementia and geriatric care.” – A recent student extern
WAI Summer Externship Application
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of Award U1Q53041 (Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program) totaling $5M with 0% percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The content is those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.