PHMDC is committed to helping build tomorrow's public health work force. PHMDC offers practical experience in a local health department, with exposure to a variety of public health programs and disciplines. However, due to limited resources, PHMDC is not able to meet all of the requests. Students are asked to begin the inquiry process two to three months before the rotation begins.
TYPES OF EXPERIENCE
PHMDC currently offers three types of experiences:
- Weekly Rotations: typically one day per week for 4 to 15 weeks where a student works with one or more mentors to satisfy program requirements of the student's academic program. Initially this involves observation, but usually expands to include independent work with a public health focus,
- Internships: typically an unpaid learning experience of 16 to 40 hours per week with a total of 250 to 400 hours of work. The student works with one or more mentors to satisfy their program requirements, focusing on a specific community project,
- Volunteers: typically involves working with a PHMDC staff member on a specific public health project at least 8 hours per week over a period of several months. There is no relationship with an academic setting.
PHMDC is willing to consider other types of experiences, but does not have the personnel to be able to offer one- or two-week clinical intensives, shadowing experiences, or clinic experiences for students for associate degree nursing students, LPN students or CNA students.
INQUIRY PROCESS
Any person seeking a rotation or volunteer experience with PHMDC should contact Patricia Frazak at pfrazak@publichealthmdc.com and provide the following information:
- Name and contact information
- The type of experience being sought
- Academic background
- Resume
- Specific program requirements for the academic institution
- Dates and times available for a 30- to 45-minute telephone interview.
PHMDC has limited resources available to work with students, so the initial contact should be as early as possible.
TRANSPORTATION
If a motor vehicle is required as part of the work assignment with PHMDC, the student/volunteer must obey all applicable rules of the road, including possessing a valid driver's license and private automobile insurance. No mileage reimbursement is provided and it is not permissible to drive a government-owned vehicle. Full-time interns will receive a parking pass or bus pass as needed.
AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
PHMDC is a public institution. In order to work with students, there must be an affiliation agreement between PHMDC and the academic institution the student attends. This agreement outlines the relationship between PHMDC and the academic institution.
If the student attends an academic institution that does not have an affiliation agreement, the Affiliation Agreement template should be given to the student's advisor along with:
STUDENT FEES
Student fees are $500 per student payable by the academic institution the student attends. PHMDC may waive this fee for interns in a learning experience of 20 to 40 hours per week with a total of 250 to 400 hours.
VOLUNTEERS
On occasion, there are individuals not in a training program who are interested in learning about Public Health. PHMDC will work with the individual using the volunteer agreement. However, since an affiliation agreement is not in place, PHMDC cannot work with an academic institution on program requirements or expectations. PHMDC also cannot assist the academic institution with an evaluation that they may want to do of the student's work experience with PHMDC.
Contact: Patricia Frazak, 608-242-6524, pfrazak@publichealthmdc.com
