DPH Internship Program
The DPH Internship Program is an unpaid or short-term paid program which offers valuable work experience at DPH directly related to the students’ academic field of study. It is expected that students performing unpaid work are earning course credit or receive credit for meeting a course requirement. Please email DPHInternship@mass.gov with questions about the DPH Internship Program.
General program requirements
In order to qualify, the student must be:
- At least the minimum age required by federal, state or local laws and employment standards;
- A U.S. citizen, or appropriate employment authorization documentation;
- A student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student;
- Able to produce a letter of verification from your educational institution showing proof of enrollment.
-
Able to complete and sign CORI paperwork, including:
Academic Public Health Corps
The Academic Public Health Corps (APHC) is a program of the Massachusetts Academic Health Department Consortium (AHD) formed in March 2020. It is managed by the Massachusetts Health Officers Association (MHOA) and funded by the MA Department of Public Health (MDPH). The mission of the APHC is to support public health agencies and to advance health equity in Massachusetts by engaging with public health students, alumni, and expert participants through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Corps members are paired directly with local boards of health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, or public health affiliated organizations in Massachusetts to support a variety of community level projects related to: Health Communication, Social Media Development and Management, Community Outreach, Translation Services, Data Analysis and Presentation, Policy and Protocols, and Mobilizing and Supporting Partnerships.
General requirements
- Corps members must be affiliated with one of the APHCs thirteen partner institutions as any of the following:
- Undergraduate student
- Graduate student
- Alumni
- Staff/Faculty
How do I apply to become a Corps Member?
The Academic Public Health Corps hires current public health students and recent graduates for 3-month or more Corps Member positions supporting public health across MA! Build your resume, find a practicum, and network with other public health professionals. A full job description is available here: https://bit.ly/aphc9
Please apply here to be a Corps Member: https://bit.ly/aphc8
Note: The APHC seeks to include a range of lived experiences in our organizational leadership. To that end, anyone who is interested in this role should apply — even if you do not perfectly match the qualifications listed above. We strongly encourage applications and inquiries from women, LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, people with disabilities, and others from historically underrepresented communities.
When is the APHC application deadline?
| Key Dates | Fall Cohort | Spring Cohort |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | April 15 | August 15 |
| Application deadline | May 15 | September 15 |
| Send offer letters | June 15 | October 15 |
| Start date | 1st week of September | 1st week of January |
| Internship end date | Late December | Mid-May |
Local Health Internship Program – Summer Only
The DPH Division of Epidemiology and Immunization has hosted the Local Health Internship Program since 2004, annually placing 25-35 public health graduate student interns in local, regional, and state health department or local boards of health throughout Massachusetts. The goal of the program is to provide graduate public health students with the opportunity to supplement their classroom education by gaining an understanding of the critical role of local health departments, and to support local health departments in undertaking and completing public health projects.
Selected students work on a wide range of topical projects at the local level including environmental health, substance abuse, communicable disease case investigation, needs assessments, emergency preparedness, health education, data entry/analysis, and health policy. Accepted students have access to mentors at the state and local level and are offered the opportunity to spend time shadowing epidemiologists and health educators with various DPH programs (Infectious Disease, Substance Abuse, Global Health, Environmental Health, etc.).
The program concludes with a final session where the students’ summer projects are showcased via poster and oral presentations. Students must commit to a minimum of 160 hours during the summer (Estimated time frame: Late May to Mid-August). This is an unpaid internship.
Local Health Internship Program Seasonal Timeline
| January & February | Local Boards of Health (LBOHs) design project proposals and submit to DPH an official application requesting to host an intern for the coming summer |
|---|---|
| Mid/Late February | DPH posts a comprehensive listing of approved internship vacancies and instructions for public health student applicants. |
| Mid-March | Student Internship Applications are Due |
| Late March | Student Match Week |
| Late May | Student Intern Orientation and Program Commencement |
| June & July | DPH Shadowing Opportunities Available |
| End of July | Student Project Abstracts Due |
| Mid-August | Closing Session/Final Projects Presentation |
The formal student application will be posted late February of each year and includes specific deadlines/timelines. View the most recent year’s application and internship descriptions.
Please contact Julie Coco for additional information on the Local Health Internship Program.
Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS) Internship Program
The Massachusetts DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS) Internship Program is perfect for current undergraduate or post graduate students. As an intern with BIDLS, you will gain valuable resume experience, build relevant skills, and develop important networking connections. Submit your application by Saturday, March 25, 2023. Learn more about this internship opportunity.
Unpaid Internship Opportunities
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) offers internships for undergraduate, masters and doctoral level students. The majority of these internships are unpaid.
- Legislative Intern | Legislative Affairs in the Commissioner’s Office
- Licensing Analyst Internship | Board of Registration in Medicine
- State Health Assessment and Improvement Plan Internship | Office of Performance Management and Quality Improvement
High School Opportunities
Outbreak! 2023
Outbreak! 2023 is a FREE program open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in learning about a variety of public health topics and careers. This interactive experience will have additional opportunities for students to expand their interests in person through optional tours and events.
Outbreak! 2023 will be held on Monday, July 24th to Friday, July 28th from 9:00am to 3:00pm through the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday programming will be via Zoom, and Thursday will be in person with a virtual option for students who live outside of the region. Additionally, there will be an optional day of virtual visits to various universities' schools of public health on Monday, July 31st.
Learn more on the Public Health Museum's website and fill out the application on their website if you are interested.
Boston Congress of PH Public Health Summer Institute Pre-College Program
The Boston Congress of Public Health hosts the Public Health Summer Institute Pre-College Program, exclusively for for high school students! This program consists of five sessions of intensive four-day summer programing. The four-day institutes will take place July-August 2023. Students will dramatically enhance their knowledge of the intersecting fields of public health, health equity, and social justice near the campuses of Harvard University, Yale University, Claremont Colleges, or Gallaudet University. Priority deadline is April 15, 2023. Learn more about the pre-registration, application fees, and program information.