Public Health Practicum Having a Great Experience

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Public Health Practicum Having a Great Experience

• Courtney Burton
• Practicum Coordinator
• Institute of Public Health
• Georgia State University

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The Goal

• Apply public health theory to practice
• Gain insight into public health beyond the
  classroom

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Learning Objectives

• Apply and test public health concepts
• Experience the essential PH services
• Apply problem-solving skills
• Practice teamwork and interdisciplinary
  operations
• Perform in the real world

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Getting Started

• Practicum is conducted after completing core
  classes at least 2 electives
• Fieldwork is conducted usually over 1 2
  semesters
• In some cases, students may work at more than one
  site or full-time working adults may conduct a
  practicum at their work site

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Principal Players

• Student
• Advisor
• Practicum Coordinator
• Placement Site Leadership
• Preceptor
• GSU/CHHS/IPH

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Roles and Responsibilities Student

• Discuss readiness with advisor, then contact
  practicum coordinator
• Identify potential practicum sites
• Follow up with candidate sites
• Develop a project plan
• Submit practicum application and learning
  objectives
• Provide written progress reports

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Roles and Responsibilities Student

• Participate in classroom sessions and student
  presentations
• Prepare final in-class presentation- 15 minutes
• Submit written final report
• Complete mid-course final evaluations

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Roles and Responsibilities Advisor

• Provide guidance in topic selection and
  refinement
• Suggest possible sites
• Provide advice on technical aspects of the project

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Roles Responsibilities Practicum Coordinator

• Identifies potential sites
• Serves as Liaison
• Provides one-stop-shop services
• Coordinates in-class component
• Assigns grades

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Roles Responsibilities Preceptor

• Provides administrative direction and oversight
• Provides feedback and guidance
• Reviews and evaluates students progress
• Collaborates with practicum coordinator

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Practicum Development

• Identify topic, discipline, and sector
• Develop goals learning objectives
• Identify and evaluate prospective sites
• Select site
• Develop plan
• Approve plan

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The practicum must include

• Most or all five core public health competencies
• One or more of the 10 essential services of
  public health
• Activities or duties consistent with learning
  objectives

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Practicum Project Examples

• Comprehensive Cancer Control Programs
• Assessment of Toxic Waste Exposure
• Assessment of State WNV efforts
• Lead exposure and ethnic disparities
• Russian HIV Study
• Infection Control Data Review

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Learning Plan Outline

• Goal
• Measurable learning objectives
• Performance indicators
• Strategies/actions
• Evaluation

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Learning Plan Ex. Goals Activities

• Goal The student will be able to implement data
  management and collection for a study
• Activities
• 1) Engage organization staff, explain project,
  and develop plan to obtain relevant data
• 2) Use computer programs to enter, manage, and
  store data

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Learning Plan Ex. Assessment

• Assessment
• Documented communication with staff
• Results of discussion with staff
• Preceptor review and feedback regarding data,
  when cleaned and ready for analysis
• Feedback from agency staff regarding data
  management

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Practicum Implementation

• Varies from student to student
• Schedule per students and sites requirements
• Full or part time
• Duration
• Standardized forms
• Evaluation forms (mid-term due at midway point
  and final evaluations at the end)
• Periodic face-to face meetings and classroom
  sessions

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In-Class Component

• Orientation session
• Periodic in-class sessions (monthly)
• Progress reports
• Final presentations
• Discussion and dialogue

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Practicum Presentation

• Introduction/Background
• Goal/Objectives
• Methods/Strategies
• Findings
• Discussion
• Conclusions/Recommendations

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Practicum Final Report

• Portfolio of work completed
• Executive Summary
• Project Summary
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Examples of Your Work

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Practicum Evaluation

• Formal and informal
• Student, preceptor, and program
• Progress review
• Mid-course and final
• Close-out conference

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Practicum Grade

• The IP grade
• You do not need to register for more than the
  required practicum credit hours outlined in your
  curriculum.

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Other perks and benefits

• You show your worth and capabilities, then
• Learning from your classmates
• Job, career, , and happiness may follow
• Networking is free
• Its up to YOU!

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Where?
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Locating sites and opportunities

• Practicum Coordinator
• Research
• Networking
• Your professors
• Job shadowing/informational interviewing
• IPH Bulletin Board and list serv
• Classmates alumni

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Resources

• Student Practicum Resources Page
• http//publichealth.gsu.edu/student_practicum_reso
  urces.asp
• IPH Internship Opportunities
• http//publichealth.gsu.edu/internship.asp
• Emory Public Health Jobs
• http//www.publichealthjobs.net/default.cfm
• Kaiser
• http//www.kaiseredu.org/fellowships/default.aspx

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FAQs

• I have an idea! when should I start?
• I want to work on HIVis that OK?
• I have always wanted to work at CDC - can I do
  my practicum there?
• Can I do my practicum and my thesis at the same
  time?
• Can I do my practicum where I currently work?
• Can I expect to be paid?
• Are there limits as to the possible location?
• I work full-time. How can I schedule my
  practicum hours?
• Are there prerequisites before taking practicum?