remote public health internships

remote public health internships

The Benefits of Remote Public Health Internships

1. Introduction

When applying for internships, it is common to confront the obstacle of doing an internship for free in order to gain experience in the specific field of interest. But, is working for free worth it? This is a question that many public health students and graduates may face when considering the internship requirements to gain experience in their field. Interning for no pay might not sound ideal, but the experience gained might be priceless. Given the current state of the economy and the rising cost of tuition and living expenses, many students and graduates cannot afford to work for free and are not able to accept an unpaid internship. It would simply become too much of a financial burden. In these cases, paid internships would be a better alternative, however paid internships in public health are few and far between. A possible solution for students and graduates facing the dilemma of an unpaid internship would be to participate in a remote internship. Remote internships have become a popular trend today with the advancement of technology and the internet. This type of internship can be done from any location and eliminates the need for a daily commute. This specific type of internship has the potential to bring forth many benefits and drawbacks as compared to traditional location-based internships. In this article, I will explore the benefits and drawbacks of a remote internship in the field of public health and assess whether or not it is a viable option for students and graduates in today’s economy.

2. Advantages of Remote Public Health Internships

The greatest advantage of a remote internship is that it is flexible and can be scheduled to update conventional classroom learning. Interns become proficient at arranging and managing their own workload. This means that dates and deadlines must be clearly noted in order to successfully complete the internship. The intern’s ability to juggle a “real world” workload alongside academic requirements increases their ability to successfully balance competing responsibilities in the future. Another major benefit to remote internships is that they vastly broaden the scope of possibility for applicants. With the position based in the intern’s own home and work conducted through the use of a computer, location is less of a factor in an intern’s ability to perform tasks. This means there is less concern about whether or not an intern has the means to relocate for a job or if they can find one in a commutable distance. It also increases the potential for various international internships, which can be a great step towards understanding global public health practice.

3. How to Find Remote Public Health Internships

There’s the internship listing databases, typically run by colleges that can provide a good source of finding public health internships that can often be filtered based on location and whether or not it’s paid. For example, a student who’s a member of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) can find internship listings through their website. Another database resource is going to the specific public health organization; this is especially useful for international internships. It requires a bit more leg work in terms of going to each website and looking through the internship to see if it’s remote or not but tends to have less competition since fewer people are looking for them and are often of much higher quality. Finally, the tried and true method of asking around and networking. Professors, especially those teaching public health, are likely to know if there are any remote internships available and could possibly connect you with the internship supervisor. The last method of finding a remote internship is through a formal program. These programs can either partner you with an internship or simply provide listings or resources to find one on your own. Unite for Sight’s Global Impact Corps is an example of the former that runs internships all over the world but does have a fair number of remote options. On the other hand, the Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program is an example of the latter which provides resources such as a database of international health researchers whom they’ve worked with in the past.

4. Tips for Making the Most of Remote Public Health Internships

2. Stay connected. Be sure to get to know co-workers or other interns. A strong network provides invaluable opportunities for learning and job searches, and often friendships and professional relationships can be formed that last a lifetime. Consider meeting with your peers and supervisor for a conference call once a week, or try to set up informational interviews with co-workers in different departments to learn more about their work and how your projects might fit into the big picture of the organization. Make an effort to stay in touch with your new contacts even after the internship ends. Networking is a skill that is never fully mastered, and the more you practice, the better you become. It is important to never underestimate the power of a well-maintained network when it comes time to search for a job or another internship.

1. Demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and professionalism. Demonstrate the same responsibility, professionalism, and initiative as you would in any other internship. Keep commitments, meet deadlines, and show that you take your remote internship as seriously as you would an on-site position. Communicate consistently and professionally with your supervisor, identifying clear expectations for tasks and asking for periodic feedback on your performance. Although face time is limited, be proactive about scheduling phone or video conferences with your supervisor to stay updated and connected. Always check and respond to email frequently. Be sure to keep track of your hours and the work that you have been doing and consider documenting your learning experience throughout the internship with a journal or a blog.

5. Conclusion

Given the positive trends of remote learning in other health professions, it is quite likely that there may be future increased utilization of remote internships in public health. It is essential to monitor these trends and changes in internship availability, so that we can best advise our students regarding how to obtain internships and what types of internships to prepare for. This information is essential for the professional development of our students and ensuring that they gain the skills and experience necessary to become competent public health professionals.

Results from studies in other health professions have also shown positive experiences of students participating in remote or virtual internships. Physical therapy and occupational therapy students reported high satisfaction rating with web-based multimedia learning to enhance hands-on skills. Although this is not an ideal substitution for internships requiring hands-on skill or interaction with clients, it can be an excellent alternative for students learning during didactic semesters and for enhancing skills needed for future internships. This may be the case for our undergraduate students who need more guidance and academic preparation prior to their practicum experience. High satisfaction ratings of remote learning experiences by health professional students were associated with an increase in behavioral intention to utilize the virtual experience again in the future.

This research reveals remote internships and the improvements, expected or already occurring, are directors offering internships in exchange for research conducted by public health students at both the undergraduate and graduate level and improved access for rural community internships. Currently, there are no data available on the number of remote internships offered, or the number of public health students participating in remote internships. This is a focal point for future research, and has the potential to increase internship availability for public health students on a national and global level.