Author: Dulce Mendoza

Are you interested in a career in public health? Public health internships and fellowships are invaluable opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience in a variety of settings—from government to non-profit organizations, healthcare facilities, and academic institutions. Internships and fellowships are advantageous not only for building your network, but also enhancing your resume to give you an advantage when applying for jobs in the field.

Types of Internships and Fellowships  

The public health field accommodates a multitude of interests and skills. Below are common types of internships and fellowships with examples of current opportunities. To search for more opportunities, check out our Fellowships & Internships resources.  

Community health internships/fellowships/service opportunities focus on improving the health of specific populations and communities. Interns and fellows may work with community organizations and government agencies to implement health promotion programs or participate in health assessments. 

• AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides both funded and volunteer opportunities to address the nation's most pressing challenges, including public health issues. To find opportunities, visit the MyAmeriCorps portal.  
  • Public Health AmeriCorps members are placed in health departments, non-profits, and community-based organizations in roles related to healthcare access, health and housing, substance use, health promotion, community engagement, emergency management, and more. 
  • AmeriCorps VISTA members are placed in organizations supporting sustainable change in areas that affect public health, poverty, education, climate, access to benefits, and more. Members gain experience in fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment. 
• The Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program is a two-year program—living stipend provided—specifically designed to prepare recent college graduates and early career professionals to meet emerging and future challenges in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands and provide fellows with hands-on experience in public health practice, health advocacy, leadership, and policy. The 2024 application is open until June 30. Those interested can visit PIHOA’s Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program page to learn more.  

Governmental health internships/fellowships allow interns and fellows to gain experience in one or multiple areas of public health while working at a local, state, territorial, freely associated state, tribal, or federal health agency.   

• The CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program and the Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship provide internship and fellowship opportunities for qualified undergraduate and graduate students to gain meaningful experiences in public health settings. Interns and fellows receive a living stipend, as well as paid housing and travel. Applications open in October. 

Epidemiology internships/fellowships concentrate on studying the where, how, and why of diseases and other health conditions that impact specific populations. Interns may assist in conducting research, analyzing data, evaluating public health services, or developing interventions to address disease patterns. 

• The CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is a two-year program—stipend and relocation funds provided—designed for recent master's or doctoral graduates in epidemiology or a related field interested in public health practice at the state, local, territorial, or tribal levels. The fellowship provides rigorous competency-based training while remaining flexible to meet the fellows' interests. The application opens fall 2024. 

Environmental health internships/fellowships focus on promoting wellbeing and preventing human injury and illness from ecological hazards. Interns may work with environmental health agencies to monitor air and water quality, conduct analyses on environmental policies, or participate in environmental assessments. 

• The National Environmental Public Health Internship Program is a paid internship opportunity for students attending an environmental health academic program accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. The program links students with internship placements at qualified state, tribal, local, and territorial environmental health agencies. Applications for fall 2024 session are due July 8. Those interested can learn more be visiting NEHA’s National Environmental Public Health Internship Program page to learn more.  

Global health internships/fellowships provide opportunities to work on health issues that affect communities globally. Interns and fellows may assist in implementing programs in low- and middle-income countries or assist in research to understand the impact of health issues on communities. 

• Peace Corps is a 27-month program that trains and deploys U.S. citizens 18 and older to serve in over 60 counties and work across six sectors, including health, environment, and education. Members are provided housing and a living stipend that enables them to live and work alongside the people in their community of service. Applications are open year-round. 

Public health laboratory internships/fellowships provide opportunities to work at government and non-governmental agencies to monitor and detect health threats ranging from novel viruses (e.g., COVID-19) and dengue fever to radiological contaminants, genetic disorders in newborns, rabies, and terrorist agents. 

• The Public Health Laboratory Fellowship and Internship Programs offer various funded laboratory fellowships and internship programs to prepare students for careers in laboratories and support public health initiatives. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. 

 

Qualifications and How to Apply  

Requirement and eligibility criteria depend on the individual program. Whether you are a high school student or a doctoral graduate, public health opportunities exist—paid and unpaid.   

The opportunities listed above are only some of the many options available. You can find internships and fellowships through job boards, university career centers, professional organizations, and other resources. Before applying, it's important to research the specific requirements and expectations of the program to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria.  

If you're ready to start your search, check out Public Health Careers.org for additional opportunities! 

 

About the Author  

Dulce Mendoza is a first-generation college graduate. She holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration from Arcadia University. Dulce has completed several internship and fellowship programs, including the CDC Lewis Scholars Program at Columbia University, an abroad internship with Moorfields Eye Charity, an internship with the Veterans Health Administration, and the CDC Public Health Associates Program (PHAP). While in PHAP, she worked within the Communicable Disease Bureau at the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services and responded to public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.