Public Health Practice

Overview

An integral part of the USC MPH program, the practicum is a structured and supervised professional experience with an approved agency for which students receive academic credit. The practicum consists of 260 hours of field training in a public health agency, such as a county health department, or a community-based organization. As a working partnership between students and public health agencies, the practicum offers students hands-on experience in an area of public health.

The goal of the practicum is to further students’ practical experience while enhancing the work of public health. Through the practicum, students have the opportunity to demonstrate an integration of coursework into a real-world setting, preparing them for a professional career in public health. Students have the opportunity to complete their practicum through an international experience if desired.

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Practicum Stories

Iman Mekled

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

“As a student in the Biostatistics and Epidemiology concentration, I am completing my practicum with the Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program (MTQIP) at Michigan Medicine. I work with an amazing team of medical professionals and analysts to collect Patient Reported Outcomes Measures and understand trends in recovery following trauma surgery. I love having the opportunity to design outreach materials and learn from patients across the state about the impact of medical care on physical, mental, and financial well-being. Thanks to USC’s Data Analysis courses, I was readily able to conduct statistical analyses with SPSS, SAS, and STATA for the success of this project. I’m excited to see how I will develop my research skills over the course of this experience.”

Tulsi Modi

Global Health

“My practicum opportunity with Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) introduced me to the power of networking. Planetary Health is the discipline of how human health and the health of our planet are inextricably linked. There are countless organizations around the world working on similar projects within planetary health and can benefit from sharing best practices. With PHA I’m able to leverage the knowledge of each of these organizations and create meaningful connections for them, reinforcing grassroots and community-based efforts.

USC’s MPH program opened my eyes to how climate change and biodiversity have impacted population health, how community-based responses are often the most effective solutions, and how creating global connections are powerful tools for change.”

Jasmyn Tang

“I am currently working at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes on exploring the public health context and other health and socioeconomic determinants related to their brain aging study. It’s a combination that I never expected to research. But exploring this field now allows me to help prevent and find determinants of Alzheimers and other dementias to improve the health of the people and community of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. The MPH program USC really provided the necessary foundation to further pursue my own career goals and any community interventions that I will be creating in my practicum.”

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