ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
TABLE 1
FIGURE 4
Relevant Internship Skills and Knowledge ( n = 38)
Preparation for Their First Professional Position Indicated by Interns Participating in the National Environmental Public Health Internship Program in 2015–2021 ( n = 32)
Skill or Knowledge
%
40
38
Communication
97 76
35
Interpersonal skills in a professional setting
31
30
28
Data collection and analysis
76 71 68 63 63 58 58 58 53 50 47 39 37 34 34 18
25
Critical thinking
25
22
22
Time management
20
Organization
Problem-solving
15
13
Project management
9
9
10
Presentations
Decision-making
5
3
Research
Prioritization Networking
0
Very Much A Great Deal Acquired Knowledge and Skills Needed for the Position
Position Related to What Was Learned During the Internship Not at All Slightly
Diversity awareness
Somewhat
Public speaking
Leadership
ences, Mann – Whitney U tests were con- ducted to compare in-person and virtual internship experiences across several aspects. Results showed no significant dif- ferences between the two groups in overall learning experience ( U = 126, z = -1.45, p = .15, r = .22); relevance of internship to ini- tial job positions ( U = 61, z = .43, p = .67, r = .01); or the extent to which internship activities provided necessary knowledge and skills ( U = 53.5, z = -.03, p = .98, r = .01). Additionally, no significant differences were found across the skill development and career decision items (Table 2) by internship modality. These findings suggest that virtual internships provided comparable experi- ences to in-person internships across the measured dimensions. Recommendations to Improve NEPHIP Based on questionnaire feedback, even though most respondents had a positive experience with NEPHIP, the following areas were identi- fied for potential enhancement: • Enhance career support by providing job search guidance, showcasing internship experiences on resumes, and potentially offering job opportunities post-internship.
• Prioritize in-person experiences, when possible, as they were perceived as more valuable than virtual internships. • Offer opportunities to explore emerging areas of environmental public health. • Improve the matching process between interns and host sites, possibly through brief interviews to align interests. • Provide more detailed information about internship plans and expectations in acceptance letters. • Consider increasing financial support, par- ticularly for high-cost living areas. • Facilitate networking opportunities, such as free registration to relevant conferences. • Assist with housing arrangements in internship locations. • Ensure interns work on meaningful proj- ects with tangible outcomes. Overall Impact of NEPHIP In an open-ended question, respondents were asked to describe how their NEPHIP experi- ence has influenced or affected their work- related decisions or career trajectory. NEPHIP had a significant positive impact on partici- pant career paths and professional develop-
Cultural intelligence
Remote work management
hands-on experience with environmental health in a variety of ways.” While virtual internships offered flexibility and a safe- guard during the COVID-19 pandemic, they presented challenges in fieldwork and net- working. As one participant mentioned, “It was challenging to feel like I was truly part of the team, especially because I was unable to do any work in the field since everything was virtual.” The hybrid internship provided a balance between online coursework and in-person training. The main challenges of in-person internships included relocation and transportation issues, with one intern stating, “The only challenge was relocating and affording housing.” Despite these chal- lenges, most interns reported finding the in- person experience crucial for their learning and professional development.
Differences in Impact by Internship Modality
To investigate potential differences between in-person and virtual internship experi-
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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