ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
Open Access
Charting the Path: Impact of the National Environmental Public Health Internship Program on Educational and Career Choices
Reem Tariq, MSEH Jesse C. Bliss, MPH
Adrienne Gothard, MPH National Environmental Health Association Rebecca Labbo, MA National Environmental Health Association Christopher L. Walker, MSEH, REHS National Environmental Health Association Samatha Streuli, PhD Gina Bare, RN National Environmental Health Association David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH National Environmental Health Association
Abstract The National Environmental Public Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) addresses critical workforce needs in environmental public health by bridging academic studies with practical experience. This study evaluated NEPHIP’s impact on former interns from 2015 to 2021 using a questionnaire, revealing positive effects on career paths and professional skills. From a total of 138 interns, we achieved a 29% response rate; the results demonstrate that NEPHIP significantly influenced their career trajectories and skill development. Despite limitations such as outdated contact information and a limited response rate for the questionnaire, NEPHIP’s contribution to professional development is evident in the results. Outcome data suggest that NEPHIP influenced the career trajectories of interns, with 98% ranking their experiences as positive and the majority pursuing careers in environmental public health. Intern reflections revealed the program’s diverse benefits—from gaining unique professional insights to beneficial mentorships—that illuminate NEPHIP’s role in shaping future environmental public health professionals. Keywords: NEPHIP, internships, workforce development, environmental public health
environmental public health agencies, gain- ing experience through independent proj- ects, field activities, academic credits, and mentorship from experienced professionals. From 2015 to 2021, NEPHIP supported 144 interns, providing them with insights into governmental public health operations and fostering valuable industry connections. NEPHIP not only supports career develop- ment but also broadens the diversity of the environmental public health workforce. By including students from marginalized back- grounds, the program integrates diverse per- spectives into public health solutions, promot- ing health equity (Hernandez et al., 2014). Impact of Different Internship Modes The mode of internship delivery has a strong effect on learning outcomes. Tra- ditional in-person internships offer rich, hands-on experiences, but the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to remote for- mats (Zamora et al., 2022). While remote internships present challenges, hybrid mod- els combining in-person and virtual com- ponents have shown promise, particularly for marginalized pre-health undergradu- ates (McCleary-Gaddy et al., 2022). These hybrid models leverage the strength of both approaches, enhancing the learning experi- ence and adapting to the evolving educa- tional landscape.
Introduction The environmental public health work- force is essential for community well-being, encompassing vital areas such as food and water safety, disease control, environmental risk management, and emergency response (Gerding et al., 2019). Recent reductions in personnel and resources, however, threaten to compromise the quality of these essential services (Cunningham et al., 2024). To address this challenge, bridging the gap between academic studies and practical experience is crucial. Internship programs such as the National Environmental Pub-
lic Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) effectively combine theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, enhancing stu- dents’ professional readiness (Ryan & Hall, 2022). NEPHIP, a collaboration between the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and the Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), offers a 400-hr paid internship for students enrolled in programs accredited through the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC). Interns work with state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT)
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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