APPENDIX V.B.2
Practicum Policies and Procedures
Updated: June 19, 2004
A practicum serves as a structured and significant educational experience that takes place in an agency, institution, or community under the supervision of a site administrator (preceptor) and the guidance of the student's department. This experience is intended to give students the opportunity to develop professional skills in an actual public health practice setting. Students work in a public health subject area or discipline in order to further or complete their graduate education in public health. This experience must involve a minimum of 200 hours of service. Students must register for this experience, although is carries no credit hours. In this way, the practicum becomes an official entry on the transcript.
Individual departments are responsible for approving projects as worthy of practicum status. In general, acceptable practicum opportunities involve a student working in his/her area of concentration and have one or more of the following characteristics:
· Provide data for a thesis
· Involve project-oriented work in a public health site
· Allow students to use the skills and/or theories learned in their program in actual practice
Jobs that are strictly clerical in nature would generally NOT be accepted. Some sample practica experiences are described below. Students should check with their departmental Assistant Director of Academic Programs (ADAP) for further questions and clarification.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the practicum, students must have completed at least one semester of course work with a minimum of 10 credit hours, at least one core course, and two or more required courses in the student's department. Students are encouraged to begin researching their practicum options as soon as they enroll.
Locating a Practicum Site
ADAPs and Career Services have full access to previous practicum sites through the newly created (Spring 2004) Practicum Web Client. Often the jobs listserv introduces practica opportunities along with paid employment. In addition, new opportunities for students to enrich their learning through structured paraprofessional experiences are continually being developed. The departments, the School, and Student Services actively work together to create and publicize opportunities that students may use to fulfill their practicum requirement.
Students are encouraged to seek unadvertised opportunities in the greater public health community. Sometimes the greatest opportunities come through networking. Career
APPENDIX V.B.2
Practicum Policies and Procedures, cont’d
Services staff members are available to coach students in how to network, to write strong resumes, and to interview for opportunities.
Web resources for locating existing opportunities AND researching potential opportunities:
http://www.sph.emory.edu/CAREER - RSPH Career Services home page
http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/PHEC/phec.cfm - Public Health Employment Connection, a data base of all types of jobs from all over the country and the world
Sample Practica Experiences
The following are brief descriptions of selected sample practical:
· Working at Egleston Children's Health Care System to assist with an interactive health education program to reach fourth and fifth graders in metro-Atlanta schools. Assist in: training and overseeing volunteers, teaching students and overseeing student interaction, program evaluation activities and additional projects.
· Serving on a team of students to plan, create, and implement a health promotion campaign for Emory University. This would entail researching problem areas, studying the population and the problem, designing age-appropriate materials, and working with campus officials and/or student groups to implement the program.
· Conducting research at the CDC on HIV/AIDS prevention. Analyze cost effectiveness to assess the value of program interventions, learn various models and methodology, and use decision analysis software, design and present workshops to colleagues and staff members about project.
· Research, compose, and co-consult on special projects for a hospital department and program and be involved with grant and proposal writing. Develop an Employee Communication and Satisfaction Survey for future implementation.
· Design and present findings on quality improvement for implementation of influenza vaccine. Develop guidelines, recommendations, and marketing materials; present findings and design tools to be used by members in new health promotion programs.
· Work in a developing country to assist an agency with program design, evaluation and other applied research.
Steps to Attaining Credit
In order to ensure that he/she receives credit for the practicum, each student must follow these administrative steps:
APPENDIX V.B.2
Practicum Policies and Procedures, cont’d
- Speak to the Department ADAP to determine if the proposed practicum seems suitable.
- Have a conversation with the person who will be the site supervisor (preceptor). Discuss and establish mutual objectives and strategies. This is a crucial element of the process. It is important to use this opportunity to discuss each parties’ expectations. This is the time to solidify conditions (including work schedule, payment, etc.) that are agreed upon.
- Login into the Practicum Web Client
http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/Practicum/login_student_frm.cfm
- enter basic information about the site and employer/preceptor
- enter Objectives and Strategies that have been agreed upon
The preceptor (supervisor) will evaluate the student based on these objectives at the end of the experience. If objectives may change from the original plan, which they often do, the student should revise the objectives and have the supervisor agree to the changes.
- Near the completion of the practicum, the student should fill out the Practicum Site Evaluation
- The employer/preceptor will use the Practicum Web Client to evaluate the student’s performance. The two will meet to discuss this appraisal as well.
- The appropriate ADAP will be notified electronically and will complete the evaluation so in order for the student to receive credit for the experience
Exemptions
ALL students are strongly encouraged to complete a practicum, regardless of their exemption status. Students are required to petition for exemption prior to the start of their second semester of study or after they have completed 10 hours of credit toward their MPH/MSPH degree. The following are reasons that a student may be exempted from the practicum requirement. The reasons below require ONLY departmental approval for exemption. (Process for review to be determined by the department.)
- Previously earned M.D.
- Previously earned Ph.D.
- Other terminal degree (previously earned)
- Dual degree student
- CDC PMR student
The following are also reasons a student may petition to be exempt from the practicum requirement. These reasons require approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Services or the Associate Dean for Applied Public Health with recommendation from the department.
APPENDIX V.B.2
Practicum Policies and Procedures, cont’d
- Student possesses two (2) or more years of experience relevant to MPH or
MSPH degree.
- Special Circumstances
Students may appeal decisions regarding their petition for exemption by meeting with the Associate Dean for Applied Public Health. Students are told the final determination regarding their petition within 30 days of submission.
APPENDIX V.B.3
Practicum Field Sites
Practicum Agency Listing
2001-2004
58
African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)
§ Uganda, South Africa
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
§ Center of Organization Delivery Studies
All Kids Count (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
§ Task Force
American Cancer Society
§ Behavioral Research Center
§ Cancer Control/Special Populations
§ National Home Office/Evaluation Department
§ Research Promotion and Communication
American Cancer Society
(Southeast Division)
§ Evaluation
American International Health Alliance
§ Infection Control Program
American Lung Association of Georgia
§ Pediatric Asthma Camp Program
American Public Health Association
§ Communications Department
American Red Cross
§ Gwinnett Service Center
Amigos Siempre Amigos (ASA)
Arthritis Foundation, Georgia Chapter
§ Chronic Disease
Atlanta Harm Reduction Center
Atlanta FDA Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee (VMAC)
§ Department of Education
Barton Child Law Policy Clinic
§ Law School
Belaku Trust
BRAC
§ Rural Development Program
Calidad en Salud
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board
§ Life Primary Health Care
CARE
§ Bangladesh (Pragti RPR Center)
§ Cambodia
§ Emergency Group
§ Ethiopia
§ Ghana
§ India
§ Kenya (CICSS/Siava)
§ Mozambique
§ Policy & Advocacy Unit
§ Polio Eradication Initiative
§ Reproductive Health
§ Tanzania (CDC Health Initiative)
§ Tropical Institute of Community Health Development
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
§ Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program
§ Division of Bacterial Mycotic Diseases
§ Division of Health Quality and Promotion
§ Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
§ Division of Injury and Disability Outcomes Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continued
§ Division of Laboratory Sciences/Toxicology
§ Division of Parasitic Diseases
§ Division of Parasitic Diseases/Entomology Branch
§ Division of Preventive Research and Analytical Methods (DPRAM)
§ Division for TB Elimination
§ Division of Public Health Surveillance
§ Environmental Hazards and Health Effects
§ Foodborne and Bacterial Diseases
§ GAP
§ Hospital Infectious Program
§ Informatics
§ Infectious Diseases
§ International Health
§ Lead Poisoning and Prevention
§ National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)
§ National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPP)
§ National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)
§ National Center for HIV, STD and TB Program
§ National Center for Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
§ Nigeria
§ Nutrition and Physical Activity Branch
§ Respiratory Disease Branch
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
§ Community Health Development
§ Pediatric Partners of Grant Park
Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti
Christian Children’s Fund
§ Ecuador
Chrisroffel Blindenmission
Clinica Evagenlica Mam
Columbus Regional Health System
§ Community Healthcare Network
Community Advanced Practice Nurses, Inc.
Comprehensive Rural Health Project, Jamkhed
CORE Group
§ India (New Dheli)
CVS Pharmacy
§ Pharmacy
DDB Bass & Howes
DeKalb County Board of Health
§ Environmental Health
§ Center of Public Health Preparedness
DeKalb County Schools
§ Family Technology Resource Center
Delta Airlines
§ Corporate Safety
Department of Human Resources
§ Chronic Disease
Department of Veterans Affairs
§ Academic Affiliations
Eagle Hospital Physicians, LLC
Ekwendeni and Embagwani Mission Hospital
Emory Regional Training Center
Emory University – Center for Health in Aging/Wesley Woods
Emory University Health Services
§ Health/Physical Education
Emory University – Rollins School of Public Health
§ Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
§ Department of Health Policy and Management
§ Department of International Health
§ Division of Geriatrics/SOM
§ Get Busy Living – Adherence Study
§ Global Environmental Health
§ GoGirls! Project
§ Information Services
§ Project EBAN
§ S.I.T.E.
§ Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium (TTAC)
Emory University – School of Medicine
§ Family and Preventive Medicine
Emory University – School of Nursing
Environmental Protection Agency
§ Hiker Health Study
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
§ Public Health Sciences
Freedom from Hunger
Fulton County Health Department
§ Office of Epidemiology
Georgia Medical Association
§ Georgia Partnership for Caring Foundation
Gannett Flemming
Georgia Department of Corrections
§ Office of Health Services
Georgia Division of Public Health
§ Injury Prevention Section
Georgia General Assembly
§ Office of Senate Majority Leader – Charles Walker
Georgia Partnership for Caring Foundation, Inc.
Georgia Institute of Technology Health Services
§ Department of Wellness and Health Promotion
Global Health Action, Inc.
Grady Health System
§ Medicaid Department
§ Division of General Medicine
Hanoi Research and Training Center
§ Center for Community Development
Health Consulting Group, Inc.
HealthNet International
§ Nairobi, Kenya
HIV Centre
§ Faculty Medicine
Horizons Project
Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital
§ Planning and Development
Integrated Development Activities and AIDS Concern
§ Uganda, East Africa
Interfaith Health Program
International Federation of the Red Cross
§ Nairobi Regional Health Delegation
§ West African Reg. Delegation Health Department
International Food Policy Research Institute
International Organization for Migration-Moldova
§ IOM Chisinau
International Rescue Committee
§ Atlanta
§ Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panand, INCAP
Ixtatún Fandanca
§ Environmental Health
Johnson & Johnson
§ Consulting Services
Kara Counseling and Training Trust
§ Umoyo Training Centre
Kodak Polychrome Graphics
§ Environmental Health and Safety
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
§ Public Health Programs and Services
March of Dimes
§ Georgia Chapter
§ North Carolina Chapter (Greater Piedmont Division)
Marcus Institute
§ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Center
Mercy Corps
Metropolitan Life (MetLife)
§ Disability Insurance
Ministry of Health of Latvia
§ Public Health
Ministry of Health, Mexico
§ National Immunization Council
Minnesota International Health Volunteers
Mission Filter Project
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
§ Family and Community Health Bureau
Morehouse School of Medicine
§ ATSDR
National Institute of Public Health
§ Center of Nutrition and Health Investigation
Novoste Corporation
§ Marketing
Oregon Department of Human Resources
§ Office of Family Health
Outreach Inc.
Oregon Department of Human Resources
§ Office of Family Health
Outreach, Inc.
Palmetto Health Council, Inc.
PAAM
Perinatal HIV Research Unit
Piedmont Hospital
§ Quality Improvements
PLAN International
§ PLAN Senegal
Population Council
§ Bangkok Office
Population Services International
§ Pan American Social Marketing Organization
Program Against MicroCo-nutrient Malnutrition (PAAM)
Project HOPE
§ Uzbekistan, Navoi
Project Horizons
Rabess Industries
§ Health and Environmental Resources
Rehabilitation Exposure
§ Teen Program
Regional Youth Detention
§ Department of Juvenile Justice
Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute
Safety Street Georgia
§ Georgia’s Governor’s Offices of Highway
Sanjivini Trust
Save the Children
§ Hymalayan Field Office
§ Afghan Refugee Health Project
Society for Education, Welfare and Action-Rural
Southern Regional Medical Center
§ Quality Service
SPAN USA (Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network)
Spectrx, Inc.
Spina Bifida Association of Georgia
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Supreme Court of Georgia, Child Placement Project
§ Administrative Office of the Courts
Tansen Hopsital
Task Force for Child Survival and Development
§ Global Traffic Safety
The CORE Group
§ Polio Eradication Initiative
The Carter Center
§ Global 2000
§ Then Mental Health Program
The Emory Clinic
§ Finance
§ Health Program
§ Internal Medicine
The Mam Center
Tumelong Mission
UNICEF
§ Health Unit, Dar es Salaam
§ Nutrition
§ WHO
University of West Cape
§ School of Public Health
United States Department of Health and Human Services
§ HIV/AIDS Bureau
United States Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU)
§ Parasitic Diseases Program
Vista Community Clinic
Water Aid
§ Mozambique
Water Partners International
Westat
§ Health Communication Group
Westinghouse Savannah River Site
§ Occupational Safety and Health
WHO/ Collaborating Center in Perinatal Care