For many students, internships are an opportunity to gain real-world experiences while developing their skills and establishing meaningful connections with people in their industry….to truly make the most out of your internship experience, it is important to set goals in the beginning, build professional relationships with your colleagues, and reflect on your experiences throughout the internship.
We designed an interactive program for underrepresented middle and high school students from our local communities, with the goal to develop a hands-on experience that would familiarize them with public health through the exciting technology of drones. Throughout the week, students thought about how drones are used to protect the public’s health, and as importantly, they thought about how they could be part of keeping their own communities healthy.
The Ohio State University College of Public Health and Columbus Public Health have been partnering as an Academic Health Department since 2019, focusing on event co-planning, traditional student placements, and training and workshop co-development. For the past five years, our two organizations have developed a strong and reliable relationship, but more than anything, it has provided a space for brainstorming and ongoing discussions to do more.
As COVID-19 deaths decline, overdose deaths continue to rise, with death rates spiking in communities of color (AMA, 2023), where fentanyl has entered the drug supply of stimulants as well as heroin.
Student experiences in field placements and collaborative projects offer valuable connections for both students and organizations. These experiences provide both groups with the power to impact communities and strengthen the future of the public health workforce.