RIT Co-op: Design Thinking

Rochester Regional Health Co-op Opportunity: Design Thinking

In Partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Location: Rochester, NY

Program Type: Co-op (RIT students only)

Team: Performance Excellence

Schedule: Double-block co-op starting in January 2027 ; in-person, M-F days (full-time availability needed)

Focus Areas: Human-Centered Design, Innovation, Process Improvement, and Operational Analytics

Key Responsibilities

Collaborate with clinicians, patients, and the Performance Excellence team to identify design opportunities within clinical and operational workflows.

Translate user needs into physical and digital product concepts, experience prototypes, and system-level solutions.

Create sketches, renderings, models, and prototypes (from low to high fidelity) to communicate and test ideas.

Lead or participate in human-centered design research, including contextual inquiry, ethnographic studies, and usability testing.

Iterate designs based on feedback from cross-disciplinary stakeholders such as medical staff and patients.

Support the end-to-end design process from research and ideation through prototyping, evaluation, and implementation.

Ensure all designs comply with healthcare standards, including infection control and accessibility guidelines.

Stay current on emerging trends in healthcare design, medical devices, and human factors engineering.

Qualifications

Required:

Current student enrolled at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Academic background aligned with the department’s area of focus.

Preferred:

Pursuing a degree in Industrial Design or a related field.

Prior internship or coursework in design, innovation, or process improvement.

Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, or other improvement methodologies.

Understanding of human factors engineering, systems thinking, or service design principles.

Proficiency with design and prototyping tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or similar) and 3D Printing experience.

Strong problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.

Ability to manage multiple projects and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

EDUCATION:

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS:

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Sedentary - Sedentary roles are primarily office-based and require prolonged sitting (67–100% of the workday) with minimal physical effort and lifting limited to under 10 lbs. Fine motor skills are necessary for computer work, writing, and telephone use, supported by clear visual and auditory ability. Cognitive and emotional demands are high due to extended concentration, frequent interruptions, independent decision-making, and information processing. Although physical exposure is low, administrative areas within healthcare environments may occasionally involve contact with infectious agents. Some roles may require flexible hours, TB screening, or a valid driver’s license.

For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.

Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.

PAY RANGE:

$20.00 - $20.00

CITY:

Rochester

POSTAL CODE:

14617

The listed base pay range is a good faith representation of current potential base pay for a successful full time applicant. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Pay is determined by factors including experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, location, and contracts.

Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.