First-in-the-nation hospital social service department; established 1905

In the early 1900s, the social work movement in America created many programs and services that we largely take for granted today. Early social workers recognized that poverty and lack of education could exacerbate illness, and were crusaders for social equality.

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Massachusetts General Hospital is a Harvard Medical School-affiliated academic medical center, located in the heart of Boston. The Department of Clinical Social Work was founded in 1905 and is the first hospital-based social service department in the country. 

We serve patients and families of all ages with from a variety of backgrounds who come from greater Boston and all over the world. We are dedicated to ensuring a learning environment that is safe, accessible, connected, and welcoming.

Our Graduate Internship Program

The Mass General Department of Clinical Social Work is committed to training the next generation of social workers to offer clinically excellent, compassionate, evidence-based, competent and patient-centered care. 

Each year, the MGH Department of Clinical Social Work hosts a cohort of second-year graduate students. Interested students may apply through their school’s practicum education department. Our program follows the traditional academic year calendar, with most of our interns being placed with us for the fall and spring semesters.

Internship opportunities vary from year to year, depending on supervisor availability. We have several inpatient and outpatient practice settings that often host interns, which can include inpatient Medicine/Surgery, Pediatrics, Oncology, Transplant, HIV, and our HAVEN program.

Our university partners are informed annually about anticipated placement opportunities for the upcoming year. Students apply through their practicum education department and indicate their areas of practice interest. Students who are selected for interviews meet directly with the supervisor(s) for the specific practice area as part of the selection process.

Interns in the MGH Department of Clinical Social Work receive one hour of individual supervision each week with their primary supervisor, in addition to participating in group supervision approximately twice per month. Students also take part in our Student Seminar series, where they receive instruction from clinical social workers and interdisciplinary colleagues on the varied roles and functions of social work throughout MGH.

All interns are required to be on-site on Mondays to allow students to participate in scheduled programming. Additional scheduling requirements vary by placement and are determined by the internship supervisor.

Participating schools of social work: