Please visit DPH Paid Internship Program for program details, timeline, and application deadline.
Note: Application closed on May 12, 2025.
Internship overview
| Intern project | Project 9: Public Health Communication Internship |
|---|---|
| Intern role | Communication Intern |
| Targeted majors | Undergraduate students with any major with interest/experience in communications or technical writing. |
| Hours per week | Part-time, 20 hours |
| Internship length | 2 semesters (24 weeks) |
| Work arrangement | Hybrid |
| Work location | 250 Washington St, Boston MA |
Position overview
The Medical Interpretation Services Program (MISP) supports the implementation of the language access requirements for health care facilities. MISP supports the implementation of the language access component of the Massachusetts Determination of Need (DoN) Program and staff provide technical assistance in the development of language access plans and ensure compliance with language access regulations for health care facilities. In collaboration with the Determination of Need Program (DoN) and the Culturally Linguistic and Appropriate Services (CLAS), MISP assesses the provision of interpreter services at healthcare facilities.
The Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement (OHECE), within the Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Health Equity, works to address social determinants so that everyone can attain their full health potential. We promote principles and policies that inform the way health services are designed and delivered. OHECE serves as an agency-wide resource and provides technical assistance to Department of Public Health programs to address health inequities.
This internship will provide valuable experience and skills development in the field of public health, information analyses, exposure to public health laws and regulations, language access and writing and reporting in health settings. Since MIS work overlaps with the DoN Program, CLAS, and other health equity initiatives within and outside OHECE, the intern will have the opportunity to obtain one-on-one and shared supervision by MIS staff, observe broad strategies and frameworks appropriate to different populations in programs and services among different collaborators, and offered the opportunity to explore one other area of personal interest in public health.
Responsibilities
The intern will be responsible for providing the following services:
- Attend regular team meetings to determine the scope and content for document revision and updates
- As much as possible, attend OHECE staff meetings
- Collect and review existing internal and external materials
- Organize materials and assist in the writing assignments according to agree-upon standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology
- Assist in the drafting of Guidelines for Implementation of DoN Standard Conditions and Language Access and CLAS and the Annual Medical Interpreter Services Progress Report
- Additional writing as needed to edit and revise sections of OHACE documents, based on comments and observations resulting from meetings
- Attend supervisory meeting
- Maintain communication with staff
Skills and qualifications desired
College student majoring in communication and writing
- Writing, editing, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with others
- Ability to follow processes and attention to details
- Ability to Identify facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Ability to follow written and oral instructions, to manage multiple tasks and time effectively, and to meet deadlines.
- Ability to verify information or data
- Flexibility and creativity in approach
For more information, please check out Program FAQs. You can also contact us by email dphinternship@mass.gov.