Local Health Internship Program – Massachusetts Department of Public Health
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Division of Epidemiology
and Immunization is seeking up to 35 graduate students to intern in local health
departments during the summer of 2016. Cities and towns currently seeking interns
are listed in this posting. See the attached pdf for information about the available individual opportunities.
The positions to be filled are Local Public Health Interns. The selected students will
work on various projects within local health departments that may include environmental
health, communicable disease case investigation, needs assessment, bioterrorism and
emergency preparedness, health education, data entry/analysis, health policy, and other
duties as determined by the local health department in collaboration with the student.
Accepted students will also be offered the opportunity to spend time shadowing
epidemiologists and health educators at the MDPH Bureau of Infectious Disease
Prevention and Laboratory Services or Bureau of Environmental Health.
The applicant must have completed at least one semester of graduate level public
health course work preferably including, but not limited to, one course each in
epidemiology, environmental health, and biostatistics. Students should be able to work
independently and have basic computer skills. Clinical experience and/or prior work
experience is a plus, but is not required. Applicants must be able to communicate
effectively in English. Most students will need access to a vehicle; however, some
cities/towns have public transportation.
The student will be required to attend both an orientation program and the closing
session held in Boston. On the closing day, each student will be required to provide an
oral or poster presentation for fellow interns, local public health agents and MDPH
representatives summarizing his or her experience. Upon completion of this internship
each student will have an excellent understanding of the various roles of local health
departments in Massachusetts and will have obtained hands-on experience in the practice of public health.
Estimated number of hours required per week: 8-15 (Hours are flexible in most
communities). Students must commit to a minimum of 120 hours during the summer (Estimated time frame: 5/25/16- 8/18/16)
At this time, listed opportunities are unpaid internships.
Student Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit a cover letter and copy of their resume via email by the
application deadline: Friday, March 18, 2016.
Your Cover Letter Must Include:
- A list of cities/towns/programs (from the choices attached) at which you would be
interested in interning. Please include AT LEAST THREE options, in order of
preference. The more towns / programs selected, the better your chances of
placement. - A brief description of your interests and any specific project area that you would
like to focus on. Consider the projects that the cities/towns have proposed, but
remember that many health departments are willing to adapt their projects to the
student’s interests. - A list of graduate-level course work you have completed (or will have completed
by June 2016).
The above information helps us to make the best possible matches between interns and
local health departments.
Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume via email no later than
Friday, March 18, 2016, to:
Hillary Johnson, MHS
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
State Laboratory Institute
305 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA. 02130
Phone: (617) 983-6800
Fax: (617) 983-6840
E-Mail: hillary.johnson@state.ma.us
Email submissions are preferred
Please feel free to contact Hillary Johnson via email with any questions you may
have regarding the application process or the internship program.
