ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
FIGURE 1
Intern Responses for A) Year of Participation in the National Environmental Public Health Internship Program and B) College Level at Time of Internship
A
B
14
Undergraduate Graduate Other
13
4%
12
10
27%
69%
8
7
7
6
6
6
5
4
2
1
0
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Year
position, 25% said it helped “a great deal,” 38% said “very much,” and 22% said “some- what.” Only a small percentage for both questions felt the internship was not at all related or helpful.
• 25% pursued a master’s degree in other fields (e.g., occupational safety, nursing, policy).
Experience Level in Environmental Public Health or Another Public Health Field
• 31% have 1–2 years. • 56% have 3–5 years. • <10% have 6–9 years.
Career Outcomes • 58% entered environmental public health careers. • 16% pursued other public health positions. • 13% chose related fields (e.g., industrial hygiene, toxicology). • 4% entered non-public health careers. • 9% did not enter the workforce. Employment in Environmental Public Health In total, 74% of respondents entered envi- ronmental health or public health careers. Of these respondents: • 70% credited NEPHIP for direct post-grad- uation employment. • 24% were employed by their internship host sites. • 58% work or have worked in STLT agencies.
Post-NEPHIP Education and Career Outcomes
Internship Experience and Effect on Career Using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not at all to 5 = a great deal), the questionnaire asked respondents about the extent to which they have maintained professional connections made during their NEPHIP internship. Nearly one half (45%) reported keeping in touch “a little” with their internship con- nections. Nearly one quarter (24%) main- tained connections “a moderate amount,” whereas 15% stayed in touch “a great deal.” Another 15% of respondents reported not maintaining any professional connections at all.
The NEPHIP experience influenced the educational pursuits and career trajectories of participants, as evidenced by their post- internship choices in both academia and the workforce. Educational Pursuits 62% ( n = 28) of respondents continued their education after NEPHIP. • 35% pursued a master’s degree in environ- mental public health. • 29% pursued a master’s in public health. • 11% advanced to doctoral studies.
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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