AMSA Public Health Education
Educational & experiential training opportunities in public health, preventive medicine and community medicine
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GRADUATE TRAINING IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Masters of Public Health
- What is an MPH?
- According to the University of Connecticut's Center for Public Health and Health Policy, "the Master of Public Health is a professional degree program, accredited by the national Council on Education for Public Health, for individuals seeking training and experience in applied public health practice. The program faculty represents the population-based health sciences. The MPH Program's mission is to prepare public health professionals to achieve high standards of leadership through exemplary education, public service, and research (UCONN, 2007).
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- Is an MPH for me?
- This is the most frequently asked question that medical students have about public health. Please check out the AMSA MD/DO-MPH guide as a starting point to determine if, when, and where you should pursue a Masters in Public Health.
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- Where can I pursue an MPH?
- Check out the AMSA MD/DO-MPH guide linked above and visit the Association of Schools of Public Health. The ASPH website provides a complete listing of MPH programs, as well as medical institutions offering the joint MD-DO/MPH degree program.
Masters of Public Policy
- What is an MPP?
- The Masters of Public Policy degree affords students the opportunity to better explore the complex world of policymaking - policymaking not just limited to the health care arena. In many programs, students learn the skills necessary for policy evaluation, implementation, and associated economic factors. Policy areas studied include social policy, science, environmental, & technological policy, public law, comparative policy, and more advanced methods of analysis.
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- Where can I pursue an MPP?
- The following schools offer graduate programs in public policy, as well as informative websites: Brown University, American University, Michigan State University (this is NOT a complete list).
Masters of Health Administration
- What is an MHA?
- The Masters in Health Administration is a degree designed for preparing future managerial leaders in the healthcare "industry." Areas studies include, but are not limited to finance, management, decision-making, strategic leadership, and analysis.
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- Where can I pursue and MHA?
- Many institutions offer MHA programs. Although there is no one list of all programs, use your judgement in selecting an appropriate program (e.g. try to avoid online programs that do not seem to mention some form of accreditation, avoid programs that you have never heard of, etc.).
GRADUATE TRAINING IN PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
- Preventive Medicine Residencies & Fellowships
- The preventive medicine residency generally consists of 3 components: 1 year of clinical training in a primary care setting, 1 year for MPH training, and 1 year of practicum (interning at a state health agency, working for the Department of Health and Human Services, etc.). The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is the professional organization uniting the field of preventive medicine. For a current listing of residency/fellowship training in preventive medicine, visit the ACPM Residency Directory website and the ACPM Residency Training Resource Center.
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MEDICAL SCHOOL ELECTIVES/SUMMER ENRICHMENT IN COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
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- CDC Epidemiology Elective Program for Senior Medical and Veterinary Students
- A 6-8 week elective in epidemiology for senior medical and veterinary students. Approximately 50 senior medical or veterinary students are offered an elective position each year that provides them with an introduction to public health, preventive medicine, and the principles of applied epidemiology, all under the mentorship of experienced CDC epidemiologists.
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- The CDC Experience Applied Epidemiology Fellowship
- Eight competitively selected medical students from around the country who are completing their second or third year of medical school will spend up to one full year at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Fellowship activities include: orientation to CDC and didactic training, monthly seminars, monthly journal clubs, hands-on training and work experience at CDC, participation in field investigations, Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Annual Conference attendance, and presentation of a culminating project. A stipend is provided for living expenses.
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- CDC-Hubert Global Health Fellowship
- The fellowship provides an opportunity for third- and fourth-year medical and veterinary students to gain public health experience in an international setting. Hubert fellows spend six to twelve weeks in a developing country working on a priority health problem in conjunction with CDC staff. Through these experiences, students establish relationships with, and receive training from, recognized experts from CDC and other national and international health agencies.
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- Indian Health Service - Medical Student Clerkship Contacts
- The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS currently provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 35 states. This page lists contacts in various locations throughout the United States where it is possible to arrange a clinical elective.
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- Native Health Initiative, University of North Carolina
- A program started in 2004 that offers medical, premedical, and other health professions students 5-week summer internships to work alongside tribal health leaders to address health inequalities in American Indian communities in North Carolina. The projects range from health education, research on issues chosen by the tribal leaders, and work with youth to empower them towards health.
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- NYC DOHMH Public Health Elective
- The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) invites residents and medical students to participate in an elective in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The DOHMH is a dynamic environment where elective participants can observe a large local health department tackling urban public health issues. Elective participants will learn about the clinician's responsibilities toward public health in order to better serve their patients and communities. The elective provides a unique opportunity to work on a project with Department professionals. By participating in the day-to-day work of the DOHMH, the trainee - whether future clinician or public health specialist - will encounter a variety of measures employed to promote wellness and prevent illness in individuals, groups, and the population as a whole. Elective participants also receive a broad overview of DOHMH responsibilities and functions through field visits, meetings and lectures. For more information on this program, as well as the DOHMH Public Health/Preventive Medicine Residency Program, please visit the NYC website.
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- STEER: South Texas Environmental Education and Research
- A four-week elective course for medical, nursing, and public health students taught in Laredo, Texas, about 155 miles southwest of San Antonio, along the U.S. border with Mexico. The program is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and teams instructors from the Health Science Center and The University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health with Laredo's own educators, health professionals, engineers, sanitarians and community leaders. While it is not a clinical elective, the lessons learned are clinically relevant. Much of the curriculum is focused on environmental health. There are no fees for housing and tuition, but past attendees recommend having a car if possible. Also consider 100+ degree heat of summer.
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- Unite for Sight in Africa and Asia
- Volunteers range from undergraduate and medical students, educators, nurses, and public health professionals to optometrists and ophthalmologists, and serve as interns at eye clinics in Africa and Asia. The eye clinic's eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly participate in community-based screening programs. The clinic's eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field, and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery. Research opportunities and academic credit possible (see FAQ page). Lengths of trips and locations vary - see website for details.
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- USDHHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services) Training Opportunities
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- USPHS (United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps) Training Opportunities
Duke Program on Global Policy and Governance & Global Health Fellows Program in Geneva, Switzerland
Johns Hopkins Preventive Medicine Residency Medical Student Rotation
Schweitzer Lamberene Fellowship (Gabon, Africa)
Schweitzer Fellowship (12 US cities)
FELLOWSHIPS IN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
- kaiserEDU.org List of Health Policy Fellowships
- The Kaiser Family Foundation website summarizes fellowships and internships in health policy available to students, researchers, journalists, and other professionals. It is not an exhaustive list.
RELATED AMSA INSTITUTES AND MEETINGS
AMSA National Convention SCRIPT - South Carolina Rural Interdisciplinary Program of Training
A five week rural experience in May-June for students of six participating universities in 13 different health profession disciplines. Participants will live in a rural area, participate in web-based orientation activities, attend a 4-day rural health workshop, and work on an interdisciplinary team community-focused health promotion activity. Participating universities - Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Francis Marion University, and Winthrop University. Housing provided, stipend, and minimal amount of traveling money provided.
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES
Public Health Links
- ACPM (American College of Preventive Medicine)
- Medical Student Section Resources
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- APHA (American Public Health Association)
- APHA Annual Meeting
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- APTR (Association for Prevention Training and Research)
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- ASPH (American Schools of Public Health)
- List of Accredited Schools of Public Health
- Why a CEPH Accredited School?
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- CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health)
- An independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and graduate public health programs outside schools of public health.
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- Healthy People 2010
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- NHSC (National Health Service Corps)
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- USDHHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services)
- ACF (Administration for Children and Families
- AoA (Administration on Aging)
- AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
- FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
- HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration)
- HIS (Indian Health Service)
- NIH (National Institutes of Health)
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
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- USPHS (United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps)
Funding Opportunities
- First, your school or institution may have access to funding databases!
- Ask your Office of Sponsored Programs or Office of Information and Communications about access to resources like SPIN, COS, and The Foundation Center.
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- Second, this is NOT an exhaustive list, but a few examples to get you started.
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- Grants Focus on Children and Youth Services
- Ludwick Family Foundation
- The Ludwick Family Foundation is committed to assisting a broad array of groups that are working to make a positive difference in the world. The Foundation accepts proposals from nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. and U.S.-based international organizations, with the highest percentage of grants made to organizations in California. A majority of the Foundation?s grants support organizations that provide services for children and youth. Grants are generally provided for tangible items that assist a program or project, such as new vehicles, equipment, facility improvement, and educational materials.
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- Grants Target Immigrant Health Issues
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Fresh Ideas: Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
- Fresh Ideas: Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides support to new community-based approaches to health problems faced by immigrants and refugees. To be considered, proposals must address ways for improving the health of new residents by linking how social factors, language skills, significant cultural differences, poor education, and poverty affect health outcomes. The Foundation is especially interested in providing support to organizations outside the formal network of healthcare providers, such as grassroots organizations, faith-based organizations, and advocacy organizations (rather than traditional providers, such as hospitals and medical clinics).
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- Skateboard Parks in Low-Income Communities Funded
- Tony Hawk Foundation
- The mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to foster lasting improvements in society, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. The principal focus of the Foundation's grant program is to encourage and facilitate the design, development, construction, and operation of new, quality skateboard parks and facilities located in low-income communities in the United States. Preference is given to proposals that demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment to the project, particularly in the form of fundraising by local skateboarders and other community groups. The application deadlines are March 1 and October 1, annually.