Mapping CEPH competencies to a public health internship program at a local health department

This oral presentation will describe how HRTP: A Public Health Internship Program at the New York City Health Department mapped Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies to its existing practice-based public health training program. HRTP offers fieldwork and other experiential learning opportunities to talented undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with an interest in public health; trains over 100 interns annually; and aims to bridge the divide between theory and applied practice.

As public health continues to redefine itself as non-communicable disease epidemics emerge and as technology advances, we evaluated our internship program: Is HRTP in alignment with the competencies needed for the 21^st century public health workforce and beyond?

In 2013, we conducted a self-audit of a typical curriculum offered to students participating in the 10-12 week summer program, evaluating the rigor and relevance of the didactic portion of the curriculum, and mapping all curriculum components to CEPH competencies. This session will discuss the review process, evaluation method, successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Internships and field placements in professional practice provide important experiential learning, bridging the divide between theory and applied practice. Learning experiences based in the workplace inform students about professional doctrine, creed, and unwritten rules of public health practice. With careful preparation, local health departments are well-suited to partner with academic centers to offer competency-based practical experiences in order to cultivate skilled workers who are better prepared to meet current public health needs.