Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111743

Roger W. Rochat, MD, Department of International Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30322, 404 712 9506, rrochat@sph.emory.edu and Lara K. Hendy, Rollins School of Public Health- Global Health Department, Emory University, 2034 Desmond Drive, Desmond Drive, GA 30033.

The MPH program at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University for global health students is a two-year program in which students often spend the summer doing internships or practicums. We conducted the first formal assessment of students' practicums for the summer of 2004. We used an e-mailed questionnaire to second year students to characterize the summer practicum by health issue, location, costs, skills needed, competencies used and overall preparation and satisfaction. Eighty-two percent of eligible global health students completed our survey.

Students' areas of interest were diverse: HIV/AIDS, safe water, maternal mortality, infectious disease, nutrition, etc... Of 68 students completing their first year, 46 (60%) went to locations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and Latin America and 22 were in the US. The average cost for international field practicums or internships was $3900 and most students were able to get financial support from scholarships (including RSPH endowed funds), living stipends, or in-kind donations from US or international organizations. Students participated in quantitative (37), qualitative (32) and evaluation (16) research. Overall 90% of students were satisfied with their summer practicum and 92% stated that their summer experience was valuable to their public health education. This evaluation shows that students valued the practical application of their education and skills regardless of their location. We recommend continuing systematic evaluation of public health practicum experiences to assure that all students are adequately prepared for and have successful field training.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify value of formally evaluating students’ practicums and educational requirements.
• Describe a variety of summer internships for MPH students.
• Identify potential barriers and predictors of students’ satisfaction with their summer practicum or internships.

Keywords: Evaluation, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.