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Spring 2009 Internship Opportunities
Application Form | Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the links for internship descriptions. Additional projects will be added as they become available.
- Training and Exercise Coordination
- Disease Investigation Intern
- Personal Preparedness Intern
- Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Coordination and Emergency Operations Planning
- Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Planning
- Public Health Emergency Planning
Organization:
Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Emergency Preparedness Training/ Bureau for Professional and Support Services
Location:
Description:
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Center for Emergency Preparedness Training/Bureau for Professional and Support Services Unit seeks an intern to work with in the area of Training and Exercise. The intern will be involved in assisting with coordinating training activities for public health response partners. More specifically, the intern will assist the training coordinator in coordinating and developing table top/full scale exercises to fulfill CDC and ASPR grant requirements. He/she will also be responsible for taking meeting notes and distributing them to the committee members and conducting meetings based on his/her given project. The purpose of the internship will be to provide support for the training unit while exposing a student to public health emergency preparedness issues.
Desired skills:
The selected intern must possess intra/interpersonal skills, maturity, and be able to work with others; the ability to multi-task; must be flexible; able to communicate orally and in writing.
Skills Gained from Experience:
This internship will provide a meaningful, real-life experience for someone with an interest in public health emergency preparedness.
Full- or part-time internship: Prefer a full-time student to work 40 hours per week for 12 weeks.
Organization:
Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease, Division of Epidemiology
Location:
Description:
The mission of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology is to protect residents of
TWO INTERNS ARE BEING REQUESTED. The project consists of the work outlined below.
1. Develop surveillance protocols and reference manual to cover all notifiable conditions plus protocol to a continuity of operations plan during an extended emergency event such as a pandemic.
2. Enhancement of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) and its applicability to syndromic surveillance, real time disease detection and alerting, as well as report generation; use of Biosense.
3. Research, recommend and revise current notifiable conditions law, regulation and protocol to enhance real time disease surveillance for conditions to reduce time needed to respond and provide healthcare providers and the general public with response protocols.
4. Analysis of the NEDSS system "public" reports for compliance with CDC data parameters.
5. Assist with development of a vector management program to include bioterrorism, disaster related vector issues, and Zoonotic related events in Alabama for the Department's Emergency Preparedness Teams, the Center for Emergency Preparedness, other state and federal zoonotic agencies and CDC. This would include the research and development of public service announcements, newsletter articles, preparedness exercises, presentations and the like.
Desired skills:
Preference will be given to applicants proficient in Word, Excel, Access, SAS, and data aberration software such as EARS. Must possess the ability to work with nurses, environmentalists, epidemiologists, veterinarians, physicians, programmer analysts and administrative personnel and the ability to take a project from inception to completion, test project outcomes, train staff as necessary, analyze projects and finalize epidemiological reports for publication.
Skills Gained from Experience:
Interns will gain an understanding of: the design and application of the NEDSS national surveillance database for CDC notifiable condition and syndromic surveillance; the application Arbonet for the tracking and trending of zoonotic diseases (West Nile Virus, EEE, rabies and others); the public health role (including the lab) in monitoring, investigating and advising the general public regarding communicable diseases and environmentally related toxicological exposures; and the nation’s pandemic influenza preparations and how surveillance activities provide a first line defense.
Full- or part-time internship: Prefer a full-time student to work 40 hours per week for 12 weeks.
Organization:
Jefferson County Department of Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Location:
Description:
The Jefferson County Department of Health's Emergency Preparedness and Response Department conducts an "all hazards" approach to preparedness which includes bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, natural and man-made disasters, etc. Many citizens of
The intern will also have the opportunity to attend weekly epidemiological updates and monthly All Hazards planning meetings for all seven sectors (health care, education, government, first responders, business, faith-based and the general public) in
This internship will require making contact and working with organizations from the 7 different sectors located within
Desired skills:
Desired skills include a commitment to excellence and an ability to work collaboratively with other professionals. A facility with written and spoken English commensurate with Masters level education and the ability to conduct public presentations is required. Sufficient judgment to recognize the limitations of his or her knowledge and a willingness to ask questions is desired. The individual should be organized, detail-oriented, and must be able to work independently. Desired computer skills include researching medical literature and using Microsoft office programs.
Skills Gained from Experience:
This individual will gain community networking and public speaking skills while gaining meaningful experience in public health emergency preparedness issues.
Organization:
Mississippi State Department of Health, Public Health Emergency Volunteer Program and the Hospital Preparedness Program
Location:
Description:
The selected intern will be responsible for a dual role in support of the statewide efforts of two public health emergency preparedness programs:
The student will work with the Public Health Emergency Volunteer Program (PHEVP) to increase proficiency of current volunteers and recruit, educate, train and maintain volunteer numbers as to ensure appropriate number availability for response for performance of collateral duties in (a) epidemiological investigation and (b) response to mass prophylaxis support tasks. Scope of work involves tasks of recruitment, training, retention and maintenance and program evaluation in regard to emergency preparedness volunteers in support of the Strategic National Stockpile program activities.
The student will work with the Hospital Preparedness Program to: facilitate the development of Emergency Operations Plans for medical facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, and home health) to insure preparation for appropriate response to disaster; and train first responders (mental health workers, EMS, fire, law enforcement, volunteers, medical staff, etc.) in psychological first aid principles to increase understanding of psychological impact of disaster on individuals who are in response mode.
Desired skills:
Student must have strong oral and writing skills, the ability to conduct research and develop and deliver presentations; experience with computer software programs including but not limited to MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Some knowledge of community and/or health program planning paradigms and adult learning theory is desired.
Skills Gained from Experience:
Student will gain experience in program development, community planning and community mobilization, volunteer recruitment, training, retention and maintenance and program evaluation and research in regard to emergency preparedness. The student will have an increased awareness of various public health programs, especially those within the emergency response field. Basic understanding and application of emergency planning and response principles will be increased. Experience regarding the psychological impact of disaster will be increased, and the student will be exposed to training in psychological first aid.
Full- or part-time internship: Program can be arranged to meet the needs of the public health intern(s). (Full-time is 40 hours/ week for 12 weeks, part-time is 20 hours/week for 24 weeks)
Organization:
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health, Region 1, Emergency Preparedness
Location:
Description:
The purpose of this internship is to provide the intern with an opportunity to develop disaster response training specifically to the complicated
Desired skills:
To be successful, the intern needs to be comfortable communicating with senior public health staff, hospital administrators, Ph.D. level trainers, as well as administrative and support staff. In addition, the intern must possess leadership skills and have the ability to work independently as well as in groups. Excellent written and oral communication skills are also desired.
Skills Gained from Experience:
In addition to those described under objectives, the intern should become familiar with hospital and public health emergency response. The intern will also be trained in Emergency Preparedness, a training that is truly unique to this opportunity.
Full- or part-time internship: Program can be arranged to meet the needs of the public health intern(s). (Full-time is 40 hours/ week for 12 weeks, part-time is 20 hours/week for 24 weeks)
Organization:
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health, Emergency Preparedness
Location:
Description:
The project is to plan, organize, and facilitate emergency preparedness plans under the direction of the executive director of Emergency Preparedness. The purpose is to provide the intern with an opportunity to develop disaster response training tailored to the complicated healthcare environment and needs of the citizens of
Desired skills:
Excellent written and oral communication skills to be able to effectively communicate with Ph.D. level administrators, senior public health staff, as well as administrative and support staff. Leadership skills and the ability to work independently as well as in groups are also desired.
Skills Gained from Experience:
In addition to those described in the description, the intern should become familiar with hospital and public health emergency response from both the state health department’s perspective as well as from senior hospital staff. The intern would also gain a working knowledge of the incident command system and the hospital emergency incident command system.
Full- or part-time internship: Prefer a full-time student to work 40 hours per week for 12 weeks.
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Public Health Emergency Planning
Organization:
City of
Location:
Description:
The City of New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) is looking for an intern to work in its office in City Hall. The scope of the work will include attending emergency preparedness planning meetings with groups from local, state, and federal agencies, along with citizens groups and other non-profit organizations. The intern will also be expected to assist in outreach within the community; researching and updating the OEP’s website; researching and drafting language needed for the web or written outreach materials; researching and drafting parts of the OEP’s plans, policies, and procedures. The intern will also be involved in coordinating trainings for diverse populations who serve as public health partners such as first responders, hospital personnel, emergency management agencies, mental health agencies, and staff from the Office of Public Health. The purpose of this internship is to assist the OEP team with overall preparedness, trainings and communication to respond to disasters in
Desired skills:
The candidate should be adaptable, flexible, resourceful and creative. He/she should have experience with interacting with the public as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills. The intern must be willing to make presentations in front of groups which vary in size and have experience in training others. Knowledge of Microsoft Office (including Excel, Power Point, Word and Access), and knowledge of web development is desired. The intern must be willing and able to work as a member of a team as well as have the maturity level to function independently. Many community meetings will take place after normal business hours, so some flexibility in work hours will be necessary.
Skills Gained from Experience:
The intern will work directly with the Director and staff of the Office of Emergency Preparedness in all aspects of planning, policy making, communicating and coordinating the City’s response to complex emergencies. The intern will be working with local agencies and communities to plan and respond to natural and manmade disasters as well as learn how the state and local governments prepare for complex public health emergencies and disasters. Upon the completion of internship the candidate will have a better understanding of the current trend of emergency preparedness as it relates to public health, as well as a better understanding of the role of public health providers involved in emergency preparedness and response.
Full- or part-time internship: Either a full-time or part-time intern is acceptable.