OVERALL VISION
Better health outcomes for all communities.
PROGRAM GOAL
To create a highly qualified diverse public health workforce.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
To provide students 12-week paid internships to complete health equity projects ranging from disease prevention…to nutrition…to policy and planning.
The Health Equity Internship Program was created to support the diversification of the public health and health-related workforce. The public health nutrition workforce, like many areas of health, needs assistance with diversification and the recruitment of a new generation of nutrition professionals. This 12-week paid internship was developed to support those efforts. Since 2002, the internship program has prepared nearly 1,000 students with practical skills in the Essentials of Public Health Services and Core Competencies of Health Education and Promotion. The Health Equity Internship Program was formerly managed by the Directors of Health Promotion and Education.
Federal, regional, state and local health agencies provide real-world work experience to students for 12 weeks to complete health equity projects in the areas of HIV, Cancer, Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Lupus, Nutrition, Mental Health, Program Planning, Health Policy, Tobacco, Injury/Violence Prevention, Aging and more. Recently, COVID-19 projects have been added to potential internship placement settings. There is no cost to the agency to serve as a placement site for a student intern.
Application Timelines
ASPHN is currently accepting intern and preceptor applications for its Fall 2023 Health Equity Internship Program. The deadline to apply for Fall 2023 is Friday, June 30, 2023. Applicants selected for the Fall 2023 Session will be notified by Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Please review the timeline below for complete details.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN INTERN?
ASPHN’s Health Equity Internship Program is designed for students enrolled in a public health program within federally designated minority-serving institutions (MSIs: Historical Black Colleges/Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities) and underrepresented students enrolled in non-MSIs. The program offers students a unique opportunity to apply academic and problem-solving skills to real-life work experiences. Equally important, the public health programs in which they intern gain fresh perspectives and vitality from future leaders.
- EARN hourly financial support over the course of the 12-week internship
- BENEFIT from state-of-the-art online evaluation and progress reporting
- ACCESS valuable opportunities to participate in professional development webinars and public health conferences
- OBTAIN support in applying to master’s and doctoral programs related to the field of public health
- RECEIVE mentoring with ongoing guidance and preparation for careers in public health
Have questions? Read our Internship Flyer for more information!
REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERN APPLICANTS
- CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AN UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE PROGRAM at an institution of higher education in the U.S.
- IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING within your program
Intern applicants must be currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher education at the undergraduate or graduate level and be in good academic standing at their institution. Applicants are required to upload and submit letters of recommendation and an unofficial transcript through the online application portal. We encourage students attending minority-serving institutions (HBCUs, HSIs and TCUs) to apply. For a listing of minority serving institutions of higher education, visit the U.S. Department of Education. International students attending U.S. institutions of higher education will be required to submit a student visa with their application.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Thank you for your interest in our program! There is no need to follow up with us after applying. The internship program will automatically notify you when you have been accepted to an upcoming session. ASPHN encourages all application materials to be submitted and uploaded through the online application system, but if you have additional transcripts, letters of recommendation or documents that cannot be uploaded, please email them to internship@asphn.org.
Once the application period passes for a given session, our selection team reviews all application materials and refers the applicants who most closely met the criteria for the internship scope of work to the internship preceptor. That preceptor will review the referred applicants and select individuals for interview. ASPHN will contact all individuals selected by the preceptor to arrange interviews. Once interviews are completed, ASPHN will notify the finalists of their selection. ASPHN will notify all applicants that a preceptor decision has been made. It is not necessary to call or email to follow up as long as you received a confirmation email from ASPHN acknowledging receipt of your application materials.
If you are not accepted to the session in which you applied, you may apply to future sessions. Please consult the eligibility requirements, as you must meet the requirements for any session you apply.
INTERN COMPENSATION & SUPERVISION
ASPHN has established a fixed stipend for each internship level. Undergraduate interns are paid $15/hour and graduate interns are paid $18/hour. Interns may work up to 30 hours/week during the 12-week internship session. The maximum number of paid hours during an internship session is approximately 360 hours. The internship program does not provide funding for housing, transportation, or relocation. You may be able to receive academic credit for participating in our Health Equity Internship. Please consult your academic advisor. ASPHN can submit letters or sign memoranda of understanding with an academic institution.
Whether the internship placement setting is in-person or remote, an ASPHN staff member will supervise all interns for the program. Regardless of an on-site or remote placement, interns will have a preceptor who will guide day-to-day activities as outlined in the internship description. Interns are expected to participate in the activities at their placement site as well as the ASPHN internship program-wide mandatory activities.
“I really enjoyed my experience as an ASPHN Health Equity CVD/CORE Intern. I was able to learn so much about myself and acquire a number of professional skills that are listed in my final report. This internship program has opened my eyes to the field of public health education and even motivated me to apply to MPH programs.”
“I really enjoyed my experience as an ASPHN Health Equity CVD/CORE Intern. I was able to learn so much about myself and acquire a number of professional skills that are listed in my final report. This internship program has opened my eyes to the field of public health education and even motivated me to apply to MPH programs.”
Interested In Becoming A Preceptor?
We seek a core of highly qualified and reliable preceptors who can help student interns develop into competent public health professionals. Preceptors are instrumental to the success of the ASPHN Health Equity Internship Program. Lend our program your assistance by becoming a preceptor or suggesting possible candidates for preceptors. Read our fact sheet to learn about the program requirements for preceptors.
