Governor Abigail Spanberger and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) recognized this year’s Top Employers for Interns through InternshipsVA, a program Spanberger launched in February 2026 to help Virginia employers design and run high-quality, paid internships for students across the Commonwealth. “Virginia’s future economic success depends on creating meaningful pathways to connect students and young professionals with career opportunities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Spanberger. “Congratulations to this year’s Top Employers for Interns. You are helping students see a future for themselves in Virginia. By providing high-quality, paid experiences and opportunities to build professional connections, these employers are strengthening their own workforce and reinforcing Virginia’s position as a Top State for Talent.”
Virginia’s growing life sciences ecosystem
Virginia’s life sciences industry has grown into a genuine economic force, now generating an estimated 26,000 jobs and $8 billion for the Commonwealth, according to the Virginia Biotechnology Association. Much of that growth is tied to Virginia’s role in the BioHealth Capital Region, the tri-state life sciences cluster spanning Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., which has been ranked among the nation’s Top 3 biopharma clusters by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News for four consecutive years. That regional strength comes from a dense, accessible network of research universities, federal agencies, hospital systems, and biotech incubators — exactly the kind of ecosystem reflected in this year’s InternshipsVA honorees
Connecting Classroom to Career
“Internships are one of the most powerful ways to connect classroom learning with the skills employers need and to offer students meaningful, real-world experience,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “The employers the Commonwealth has recognized are setting a high standard for talent development by investing in the next generation of Virginians and helping build the strong, talented workforce that will drive our economic growth.” Secretary of Education Jeffery Smith added: “When students have the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom to real work, they begin to see how their education connects to a career, and a future, right here in Virginia. The employers recognized today are opening doors for students and showing what high-quality, paid internships can do.”
Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman tied the recognition to broader workforce strategy: “Work-based learning is one of the most effective ways to prepare people for lasting careers, and it works best when employers, educators, and workers are at the table together. The Top Employers for Interns are doing exactly that by creating paid, structured experiences that build skills and confidence. Their commitment is strengthening Virginia’s workforce today and for years to come.”
The awards were presented during the 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference, hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation in partnership with the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership, and VEDP. The conference brought together roughly 500 representatives from across Virginia’s business, higher education, K-12, workforce development, economic development, and government communities to focus on strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline.
The Power of Future Talent
“As a Top State for Talent, Virginia is committed to helping employers connect with talented students and young professionals, and InternshipsVA is turning those connections into opportunities for future growth,” said VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi. “The employers recognized have shown an exceptional commitment to developing talent through high-quality internship experiences. Their leadership is creating opportunities for Virginians and strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline for years to come.”
Regional honorees from across the Commonwealth were recognized with the Innovative Employers Award, for extraordinary internship programs, and the Inspiring Employers Award, recognizing established programs with longstanding support for interns’ career readiness.
Below are the life sciences, biotech, and healthcare organizations among this year’s honorees.
- Carilion Clinic — A major nonprofit health system based in Roanoke, serving patients across Southwest Virginia through hospitals, clinics, and a growing network of specialty care programs.
- Novonesis — A global biosolutions and biotechnology company (formed from the 2024 merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen) developing enzymes and microbial solutions for food, health, and industrial applications.
- Virginia Department of Health — The Commonwealth’s public health agency, responsible for disease prevention, health promotion, and emergency preparedness statewide.
- Haleon — A global consumer healthcare company (spun off from GSK) behind brands like Sensodyne, Advil, and Centrum.
- Virginia Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services — The state’s centralized public health, forensic, and environmental testing laboratory, supporting agencies across Virginia.
- Department of Medical Assistance Services — The state agency that administers Virginia’s Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs.
- LifeNet Health — A nonprofit organ, eye, and tissue procurement organization headquartered in Virginia Beach, among the largest of its kind in the country.
- Sentara Health — A large nonprofit health system operating hospitals and health plans across Virginia and North Carolina.
- Inova Health — Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare system, encompassing hospitals, a cancer institute, and a growing research and genomics presence.
- Goodwin Living — A nonprofit senior living and healthcare services organization based in Alexandria.
- Merck — The global pharmaceutical company, here recognized for its internship program at its Virginia operations.
- Pisces Healthcare Solutions — A healthcare services and solutions provider operating in the Shenandoah Valley region.
- Afton Scientific — A Charlottesville-based pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization specializing in sterile fill-finish for injectable drugs, including biologics and mRNA products.
- AgroSpheres — A Charlottesville ag-biotech company developing biological particles that break down pesticide residue on crops, reducing harvest wait times and improving field worker safety.
- CvilleBioHub — A nonprofit life sciences innovation network supporting Charlottesville’s biotech cluster, now home to 65+ companies.
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation — A nonprofit founded in 2006 to accelerate the development and adoption of focused ultrasound as a noninvasive global standard of care.
- MicroAire Surgical Instruments — A Charlottesville-based medical device manufacturer specializing in surgical instrumentation for orthopedic and plastic surgery.
