Making the leap from clinical practice to a non-clinical role can feel unfamiliar. You know you bring valuable skills, but without a clear way to demonstrate them outside of patient care, figuring out your next step can be challenging.

That’s why internships are now part of the Collective Coaching experience. This is an exclusive opportunity for individuals who have completed the Collective Coaching group coaching program. Interns receive a monthly stipend for their contributions, because we believe that allied health professionals should not be expected to work for free, especially when they’re bringing valuable clinical expertise and perspective to early-stage teams.

Our coaching program has always supported clinicians in clarifying their goals, building confidence, and exploring new career paths. With the addition of short-term internships, we’re taking it a step further by helping clinicians apply their skills in new settings, gain meaningful experience, and discover where they can thrive.

Why Internships?

It’s one thing to reflect, brainstorm, and build a plan for your next chapter. It’s another to get a seat at the table and contribute to a team.

Over and over, we heard from Collective participants who were ready for non-clinical roles, but found themselves stuck when job descriptions asked for industry experience or examples of non-clinical work. 

The answer? Create those opportunities as an addition to the traditional Collective Coaching program, through internships that give clinicians a chance to do meaningful work while still supported by a group coaching framework.

The Collective Coaching Internship Model

Each internship is carefully matched, time-limited (typically 3 or 6 months, 5-10 hours a week), and designed around mutual benefit. Clinicians gain exposure, resume-building experience, and clarity around what kind of role suits them best. Companies gain clinical expertise, operational insights, and thoughtful support on special projects that otherwise might get deprioritized.

Best of all, interns aren’t dropped into the deep end—we support them every step of the way through biweekly coaching, strategy check-ins, and help navigating real-life challenges in a new environment.

Ashley’s Story: From OT to Operational Thinker

Ashley, an occupational therapist in San Diego, joined Collective Coaching while exploring her options outside of direct patient care. She had always been interested in home modifications, social justice, and health equity, so when she was matched with Rosarium Health, a company doing exactly that, it was a natural fit.

“It helped me see what I want and what I don’t. I learned that I love improving processes and supporting clinicians, but I’m not drawn to outreach or sales roles. That clarity alone was huge.”
— Ashley Gerber, OT

Ashley shared how her clinical skills translated directly: assessing user needs, solving problems creatively, and managing her time in a less structured environment. When the CEO asked for her feedback and actually implemented her suggestions, it clicked: “I really have something to offer here.”

Tara’s Story: Confidence Through Contribution

Tara, a physical therapist, came to Collective Coaching with a goal of transitioning into health tech. She was matched with Band Connect, where she immediately started applying her clinical background in new ways.

“My understanding of clinical workflows and operations helped me bridge the gap between product design and real-world use. Each time my feedback was valued, I became more confident that I could thrive outside the clinic.”
— Tara Kelly, PT

Tara especially appreciated learning how to “translate” the language used in the clinical and non-clinical world—an essential skill for working cross-functionally with product, engineering, or marketing teams. With steady support from our coaching team, she learned how to anticipate needs, offer thoughtful insights, and speak the language of her new teammates as she contributed to product design and market fit.

Here’s a new section for the blog article that incorporates the company perspective from Band Connect and highlights the value of clinician interns from the host organization’s point of view:

What Companies Are Saying: A Founder’s Perspective on Hosting a Clinician Intern

It’s not just the interns who benefit—partner companies are seeing the value, too.

At Band Connect, an evidence-based hybrid therapy platform, integrating a clinician intern wasn’t just a “nice to have.” It was a strategic move that delivered real business impact.

“Clinician-driven care has always been at the heart of Band Connect’s mission,” shared Abby McInturf, co-founder. “This internship gave us the opportunity to deepen that commitment by integrating clinical insight into every aspect of our work.”

Tara, a physical therapist and Collective Coaching intern, contributed directly to:

• Onboarding protocols for new PT users

• Refinement of messaging for different clinical stakeholders

• Product feedback to support feature expansion

“She helped us identify blind spots we hadn’t considered and offered insights that translated into meaningful product and marketing improvements. Her ability to connect clinical realities to our business strategy was invaluable.”

The process was seamless thanks to Collective Coaching’s structure and support.

“Because of the preparation behind the scenes, we were able to dive into core projects on day one. We highly recommend this program to any founder solving problems in the rehab space.”

- Abby McInturf, Co-Founder of Band Connect

A Safe Place to Learn by Doing

This isn’t busy work. It’s not shadowing. It's a real contribution—with the support of mentors that understand the transition journey and make space for learning as you go.

Our interns walk away with:

• Concrete experience to speak to in resumes and interviews

• Increased clarity about what roles and environments are a fit

• Expanded networks through meaningful collaboration

• Greater confidence in their voice and value

Thinking About Making the Leap?

If you’re a clinician wondering how to gain relevant experience, or a company curious about hosting an intern with deep clinical knowledge and a fresh perspective, we’d love to connect.

The Collective Coaching internship experience is about more than getting a foot in the door. It’s about building a bridge and making sure you have support every step of the way.

Ready to explore what's next for you?

Learn more about Collective Coaching at https://collectivecoaching.podia.com/