NOTICE: The 2025-2026 recruiting season for this program has begun! You can also visit our events page to see when we're hosting in-person and virtual info sessions along with conferences we are attending in the near future.
Navigating a career in healthcare can be complex, especially for those just starting out. That’s why we created the Health Service Leadership Development Program (HSLDP): a strategic program designed to cultivate future leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to drive meaningful impact across both Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services.
The HSLDP offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience through multiple rotations across diverse teams and functions. Participants are immersed in real-world challenges, contributing to high-impact projects while building the institutional knowledge required to lead strategic initiatives across the enterprise.
Participants begin their journey through our internship program, which serves as a direct pipeline into the HSLDP. Graduates of the program emerge equipped to lead cross-functional teams and drive initiatives that support our mission: improving the health and vitality of those we serve.
Applications for HSLDP full-time candidates will typically open at the beginning of September and run through the beginning of October.
Applications for Summer HSLDP interns will typically be accepted September through November.
Locations:
Associates start their first rotation in one of the following Cigna Group office hubs:
Bloomfield, CT Franklin, TN Philadelphia, PA St. Louis, MO
Timeframe:
Full-time program tenure is 5-7 years depending on the length and complexity of each rotation.
Summer internships are 10 weeks in length, running annually from May - July.
Who We Hire:
Candidates who have or are working towards their Masters of Business Administration (preferred), with a strong academic record and 3+ years of professional, full-time work experience.
Areas of exposure:
The HSLDP is the only rotational program without organizational boundaries. Below are examples of common areas for our associates to rotate through along with possible role descriptions. This is not an exhaustive list.
Key Rotational Areas:
Evernorth Pharmacy & Care Delivery
Express Scripts Pharmacy Benefit Services
Accredo Specialty Pharmacy
Service Excellence/Operations
Digital & Analytics
Clinical Research & Innovation
Sample Rotational Experiences:
Client and customer-facing relationship development and management
Leadership of critical change management initiatives with cross-functional exposure and influence
Direct and indirect people leadership through project management and execution
Support and enablement of merger and acquisition through special initiatives
Business case development and analysis of current and potential products and work streams to determine viability or enhancement
Take it from them...
Carin P. Director, Pharmacy Strategy
HSLDP Graduation Year: 2023
“HSLDP is a community that has supported and challenged me to become a fearless and authentic leader. The program meaningfully accelerated my career growth by offering ways to learn, grow, and engage beyond day-to-day business functions."
Bradley W. Chief of Staff, US Government Business
HSLDP Graduation Year: 2020
“The benefit of the HSLDP is the network across the enterprise. In every rotation, HSLDP associates helped me ramp up my understanding of the business and taught me how to work effectively with leadership to get things done."
Check out our summer internship.
Kickstart your career with a summer internship in the Health Service Leadership Development Program (HSLDP). As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to build your business acumen and leadership skills while contributing to a project aligned with our growth strategy. You’ll also be paired with a full-time HSLDP associate as your mentor and gain exposure to executive and senior leaders through exclusive forums.
The best part? Interns who excel throughout the summer are often offered full-time roles in the HSLDP after graduation — making this internship not just an excellent learning experience, but a potential pathway to a leadership career in healthcare.
