Every semester, students in the B.S. in Public Health program complete a 160-hour required internship. The internship provides an instrumental experiential learning opportunity for students to gain experience and fosters mentorship between students and professionals.
Students, along with the assistance of public health faculty, apply and interview for competitive internships at local and state health departments, school family resource and youth services centers, non-profit agencies, academic research centers, rehabilitation and treatment centers, participate in grant/contract work, and serve in roles at clinical organizations such as outpatient settings, hospitals, and community health centers.
Bri Johnson, a summer 2025 intern, helped to plan and implement a Healthcare Exploration & Academic Transition (HEAT) grant for her internship. Bri states, “The experience helped me realize I was stepping into a professional role, not just learning, but leading and making an impact.”
A spring 2025 public health intern and graduate, Brianna Reece, completed her internship at the Kentucky Department for Public Health in the Emergency Preparedness Branch. Brianna shared, “this experience helped me in many ways. I built valuable connections that will support me in my public health journey.” Additionally, Brianna was able to learn skills to help her go from student to professional. She states, “Overall, I loved my internship. It helped me develop leadership skills, grow in confidence, and make lasting connections as I prepare to enter the workforce.”
Both Bri and Brianna received support through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Public Health Scholarship Program (PHSP), which helped cover tuition and educational expenses related to their internship course. EKU Public Health Program participates in HRSA PHSP as a subrecipient of funding awarded to the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health
The internship is not only beneficial for students but can also be beneficial for the agency. Rebekah Shoopman, a public health practitioner from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, suggests students should “take the opportunity to learn from those working in the industry and do not be afraid to ask questions.”
The internship is an important step for students entering the workforce, and often is the first full time employment for students upon graduation. The public health program has many collaborative external stakeholders that value working with and mentoring our students. We are proud of the internship work our students are a part of and grateful to our internship agencies.
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