ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
in-person internships, such as offering inter- personal connections, cultural insights, and direct communication (Zamora et al., 2022). Hybrid internships show promise but require more research to fully assess their effective- ness. Future iterations of NEPHIP could ben- efit from integrating hybrid approaches to enhance its impact and effectiveness. NEPHIP’s contribution to essential skills development is clear. A significant major- ity of the interns (97%) highlighted the enhancement of communication skills, a finding that aligns with published literature on the importance of communication skills in public health (Koh et al., 2011; Resnick et al., 2018). Other valued skills reported by the interns included interpersonal relations, data analysis, and critical thinking. The empha- sis on remote work management, although noted by fewer participants, reflects the grow- ing relevance of remote work management in the post-pandemic work environment. Limitations A key limitation of our study is the less-than- desired response rate of 45 (29%), which fell short of the 105 responses needed for sta- tistical significance. This low response rate limits generalizability to the entire NEPHIP alumni population from 2015 to 2021. Out- dated email addresses and gaps in contact information limited the reach of the ques- tionnaire. To address these issues, NEPHIP
should establish a regular process for updat- ing alumni contact information and create a system by which graduates can periodically update their information. These improve- ments will enhance the accuracy of the out- reach and representativeness of future evalu- ations, leading to more reliable insights for program enhancement. Conclusion NEPHIP has demonstrated a significant posi- tive impact on the career trajectories and pro- fessional development of its participants, as evidenced by the responses to the question- naire. Most former interns who responded highlighted the program’s effectiveness in bridging the gap between academic study and real-world application in environmental public health. Key findings from the ques- tionnaire support NEPHIP’s value. Notably, 58% of respondents entered environmental public health careers, with 70% attributing their post-graduation employment directly to NEPHIP. More specifically, respondents reported gaining crucial skills in communi- cation, interpersonal relations, data analysis, and critical thinking. Educational advance- ment was common, with 62% pursuing fur- ther education, often in environmental pub- lic health or related fields. Both in-person and virtual internships provided valuable experiences, demonstrating the program’s adaptability. Importantly, the internship
experience significantly helped clarify career decisions, particularly for those respon- dents who entered the environmental public health workforce. Despite study limitations, questionnaire results indicate NEPHIP’s strong potential to shape future environmental public health professionals. Through an ongoing process of refinement driven by participant input, NEPHIP can enhance its effectiveness in devel- oping highly capable environmental health professionals ready to tackle today’s complex environmental public health challenges. This commitment to constant evolution ensures the program remains at the forefront of preparing emerging professionals for the ever-changing landscape they will face. Acknowledgments: This article was made pos- sible with support from CDC under Coopera- tive Agreement CDC-RFA-OT18-1802. The authors thank the NEPHIP participants, as well as our technical advisors at NCEH for their invaluable support throughout the proj- ect. This support greatly contributed to the successful implementation and evaluation of the project by NEHA. Corresponding Author: Adrienne Gothard, MPH, Program Analyst, National Environ- mental Health Association, 1400 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 325, Denver, CO 80222-9998. Email: agothard@neha.org
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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