Navigating Public Health Department Internships: A Comprehensive Guide

Public health internships offer invaluable opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, develop essential skills, and gain practical experience in the field. These internships serve as a bridge between academic learning and professional practice, allowing students and recent graduates to explore various facets of public health and contribute to community well-being. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of public health department internships, covering their purpose, benefits, requirements, and available opportunities.

The Purpose and Value of Community Health Internships

Community health internships are designed to provide students with the opportunity to translate their academic knowledge into practical public health work. These experiences aim to build the skills and confidence necessary for entry-level public health professionals. Interns gain a deeper understanding of how public health functions on a daily basis and begin to shape their professional identity within the field.

To achieve these goals, internships must be situated within agencies that offer authentic and supervised public health work. Interns should be actively involved in the planning, implementation, or evaluation of public health programs and engaged in the daily operations of the organization, including meetings, trainings, and community events.

Expected Outcomes of an Internship

An internship is expected to provide students with opportunities to:

Participate in the daily functions of a public health agency, including administrative and non-educational activities.
Contribute to the agency's program planning, encompassing needs assessment, program implementation, budgeting, and program evaluation.
Develop a public health project that incorporates entry-level public health competencies.
Demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues.
Utilize effective written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
Apply classroom knowledge and skills to practical field experiences.
Demonstrate the ability to coordinate public health services for the populations served by the agency.
Demonstrate the ability to utilize and disseminate public health education and promotion resources.
Articulate how the knowledge and skills gained during the internship will be applied in future endeavors.

Key Requirements for Public Health Internships

Early Planning and Preparation

Starting early is crucial for securing a suitable internship. Prospective interns should attend annual internship meetings or consult with internship coordinators well in advance of the intended internship semester. This allows ample time to explore potential sites, ask questions, and complete the necessary paperwork.

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Exploring Internship Opportunities

Utilize available resources such as internship portals to explore past placements and gather details about potential sites. When evaluating potential internships, consider whether the site aligns with the 10 Essentials of Public Health. Inquire about whether the internship is paid, although many sites may not offer funding.

Specific Program Requirements (PAHO Internship Program as an Example)

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Internship Program, for instance, aims to provide individuals entering the field of public health with hands-on experience in a leading health agency. PAHO interns are matched with technical or administrative programs based on their area of studies, professional interests, and skills.

The PAHO Internship Program seeks to:

Provide a structural framework to match interns with programs where their educational experience will be enhanced through practical assignments.
Expose interns to the work and goals of PAHO and increase their knowledge and understanding of PAHO’s mission.
Provide PAHO programs with invaluable input from interns’ diverse perspectives and specializations.

Most interns are placed in health-related programs, although other disciplines such as communications, external relations, or human resources may be considered.

Duration and Eligibility Criteria

PAHO internships typically range from a minimum of eight weeks to a maximum of six months, with a minimum of 20 hours per week.

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To be eligible for a PAHO internship, an individual must meet the following criteria:

Be at least twenty years of age on the date of application.
Be in the last year of a bachelor’s degree, enrolled in a master's or doctoral program, or have graduated within the last two years from such a program.
Be fluent in at least one of the working languages of the office of assignment (English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish).
Not be related to a staff member by blood or marriage.
Not have previously participated in PAHO’s internship program.
Possess strong writing, research, and organizational skills to support technical cooperation efforts.
Be able to work independently and demonstrate initiative and flexibility.

Visa Requirements

When required, interns are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa prior to commencing their internship. Interns working at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C., who are not already lawfully present in the United States in an immigration status which permits the intern to participate must apply for and be granted a G-4 visa prior to beginning their internship.

Application Process and Schedule

Applications for PAHO internships are submitted through the PAHO Career platform. Vacancy notices are typically open for six months at a time, from February to June and from August to December. Prospective interns may apply at any time when the vacancy notice is open.

A PAHO technical unit may contact applicants at any time regarding an internship, and the application review period is indeterminate. If an applicant does not hear from a PAHO technical unit within 12 months after the closing date of the vacancy, they may reapply if they still meet the eligibility requirements.

Important Reminders Regarding PAHO Internships

PAHO does not charge for internships.
Interns are responsible for covering the costs of travel and living accommodations.
PAHO provides a stipend, the amount of which is calculated based on the intern’s location and whether the intern is serving on a full- or part-time basis.
PAHO provides accident and illness insurance coverage during the internship assignment.

Future Employment Considerations

Following completion of an internship with PAHO, an intern may not be hired under any staff or non-staff contractual arrangement with PAHO for a period of six months.

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Additional Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

Department of Public Health (DPH)

Interns and volunteers at the Department of Public Health (DPH) can serve in various roles, including nurses, epidemiologists, health educators, and research assistants. DPH encompasses a wide array of programs that address public health from diverse angles. While DPH may not offer paid internships or volunteer opportunities, participants gain hands-on experience and contribute to the health and lives of community residents. Applicants for internships must be students, and non-internship volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC offers various internship, training, and volunteer opportunities for students of all academic disciplines and levels.

Pathways Program

The Pathways Program comprises three main components:

Internship Program: Offers internship and summer employment opportunities to students.
Recent Graduates Program: Provides recent college graduates with developmental work experience in public health and related occupations.
Presidential Management Fellows Program: Offers leadership development opportunities to students completing their master’s, law, or doctoral-level degree.

The Internship Program is designed to provide students with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school. The Recent Graduates Program offers developmental experiences in the Federal Government to promote careers in civil service. The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is a two-year, paid program designed to develop future leaders committed to excellence in public policies and programs.

Other CDC Opportunities

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program: Offers students work experience during the academic year and/or summer months.
Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP): Offers high school and college students non-paid, educationally related work opportunities.
Thurgood Marshall College Foundation/CDC Ambassador and Internship Program: Designed to increase interest in public health careers among minority students.
Fellowship Programs: Opportunities for talented scientists engaged in public health research, studies, training, or investigations.

Emory Rollins School of Public Health’s Earn and Learn Program (REAL)

The REAL program offers MPH/MSPH students opportunities to earn money for living expenses while they learn. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in the Emory Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) and must have received the REAL award through their Financial Aid and Career Services Offices.

State and Local Health Department Programs

Many state and local health departments offer internship programs. For example, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) hosts paid internships in the fall and spring through its Academic Health Department, providing students with exposure to state-level public health. The DPH Division of Epidemiology also offers the Local Health Internship Program, connecting students with local health departments across Massachusetts.

Key Skills and Competencies Gained Through Public Health Internships

Public health internships provide opportunities to develop and enhance a wide range of skills and competencies, including:

Technical Skills: Data analysis, epidemiological methods, program planning and evaluation, research skills.
Communication Skills: Written and oral communication, presentation skills, interpersonal communication, cultural competency.
Professional Skills: Teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, adaptability.
Public Health Core Competencies: Analytical/assessment skills, policy development/program planning skills, communication skills, cultural competency skills, community dimensions of practice skills, basic public health sciences skills, financial planning and management skills, leadership and systems thinking skills.

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