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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Public Health Intern

💰 Varies by organization and location

HealthcarePublic HealthInternshipResearchNon-Profit

🎯 Role Definition

The Public Health Intern is a developmental role designed for students or recent graduates eager to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience by supporting a variety of public health initiatives, from research and data analysis to community outreach and program development. As an integral part of the team, the intern will contribute to projects that aim to improve community health outcomes, influence policy, and address health disparities. This role serves as a crucial stepping stone for aspiring public health professionals, providing mentorship and exposure to the multifaceted nature of the field.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Current student in a Bachelor's or Master's Public Health (MPH) program.
  • Recent graduate from a public health, social science, or biological science program.
  • Individuals with a clinical background (e.g., nursing student) seeking a population health perspective.

Advancement To:

  • Public Health Analyst / Epidemiologist I
  • Health Educator or Community Health Specialist
  • Research Coordinator / Program Coordinator
  • Health Policy Analyst

Lateral Moves:

  • Data Analyst in a healthcare setting
  • Non-Profit Program Assistant
  • Communications Associate in a health organization

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on specified public health topics, synthesizing findings into summary reports and annotated bibliographies for program staff.
  • Assist in the collection, entry, and cleaning of quantitative and qualitative data from various sources, including surveys, interviews, and public health surveillance systems.
  • Support the analysis of epidemiological and program data using statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or SAS) to identify trends, patterns, and key insights.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based health promotion and disease prevention programs.
  • Help create and disseminate culturally appropriate health education materials, including brochures, social media content, presentations, and fact sheets.
  • Participate in the design and administration of community health needs assessments, including drafting survey questions and assisting with focus group facilitation.
  • Prepare detailed meeting minutes, agendas, and background materials for internal team meetings, stakeholder convenings, and advisory board sessions.
  • Assist with grant proposal development by researching funding opportunities, gathering supporting data, and contributing to narrative sections.
  • Support program monitoring and evaluation activities by tracking key performance indicators and assisting in the preparation of progress reports for funders and stakeholders.
  • Conduct environmental scans and policy analyses to inform strategic planning and advocacy efforts on local, state, or federal health issues.
  • Assist in the coordination of community outreach events, health fairs, and workshops, including logistics, volunteer management, and participant engagement.
  • Develop engaging presentations and data visualizations (e.g., charts, graphs, maps) to communicate complex health information to diverse audiences.
  • Respond to information requests from the public, community partners, and internal staff by researching and providing accurate, evidence-based information.
  • Help maintain and update program-specific databases, contact lists, and resource directories to ensure information is current and accessible.
  • Shadow senior staff in various professional settings, such as policy hearings or coalition meetings, to gain a broader understanding of the public health landscape.
  • Contribute to the writing and editing of scientific manuscripts, abstracts, and reports for publication or presentation at professional conferences.
  • Support health equity initiatives by researching best practices and assisting in the integration of an equity lens across all programmatic work.
  • Perform systematic data quality checks to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of research and program datasets.
  • Assist with Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and amendments, ensuring research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations.
  • Collaborate with the communications team to translate technical findings into accessible content for websites, newsletters, and press releases.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer emerging questions from leadership and program teams.
  • Contribute to the organization's knowledge management efforts by organizing and archiving project documents and resources.
  • Collaborate with various departments to understand their functions and how they intersect with public health program objectives.
  • Participate in professional development workshops, webinars, and training sessions offered by the organization.
  • Assist in orienting new interns or volunteers to the team and project goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for report writing, data management, and presentations.
  • Foundational knowledge of statistical analysis software such as SPSS, R, SAS, or Stata for data analysis.
  • Experience with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti) is a strong plus.
  • Familiarity with data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or geographic information systems (GIS) like ArcGIS.
  • Understanding of core public health principles, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and social determinants of health.
  • Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including survey design and interview techniques.
  • Experience conducting literature searches using academic databases like PubMed, Scopus, or Google Scholar.
  • Ability to manage and clean datasets, with a keen eye for detail and data integrity.
  • Basic understanding of program planning and evaluation frameworks (e.g., Logic Models).
  • Strong scientific and technical writing skills for creating reports, summaries, and manuscripts.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to interpret data and draw evidence-based conclusions.
  • Excellent organizational and time-management abilities to handle multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
  • A high degree of self-motivation, initiative, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.
  • Cultural competency and sensitivity when working with diverse populations and communities.
  • A proactive and curious mindset with a genuine passion for learning about public health.
  • Adaptability and flexibility to navigate changing project priorities and unexpected challenges.
  • Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of work, from data entry to proofreading.
  • Professionalism, reliability, and a strong sense of ethical responsibility.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a Bachelor's degree program from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), or a related graduate-level program (e.g., Health Administration, Epidemiology).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy & Management
  • Community Health / Health Education
  • Biostatistics
  • Sociology
  • Biology or other Natural Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0-1 years. This is an entry-level role designed for individuals with limited to no formal professional experience.

Preferred:

  • Prior academic, volunteer, or work experience in a public health, community-based organization, research, or healthcare setting is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated experience with a specific public health topic through coursework, projects, or independent study.
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