Virtual Public Health Internships: About!

With our world going technology savvy, virtual internships are becoming the order of the day. Obtaining virtual public health internships will help you explore a broad range of your career pursuits.

In this article, we will expound on what virtual public health internships are all about, including the benefits and the types of Virtual Public Health internships available in an international organization.

What do Public Health workers do?

As a profession, public health is the study of how to protect and promote the public’s health and maximize favorable outcomes in our day-to-day lives, including how we play, work, and learn.

In the true sense, public health differs from the clinical work of healthcare as it focuses more on identifying the causes of health issues such as gun violence, low birth rate, better gender inequity, and obesity. Public health workers may work to use data to enforce interventions, policies, strategies, and programs to alleviate those issues.

Overview of public health internship?

A public health intern assists in applying theoretical skills to report a problem. They can work at a non-profit corporation or a government agency to approach the issues from different perspectives with analysis, research, report writing, strategic planning, and communication.

It is noteworthy that the field of public health is so broad. Therefore, there are plenty of internships available.

Virtual Public Health Internships

In today’s world, where technology is highly rated, almost all organizations and fields of study have implored the idea of working remotely. Therefore, the virtual public health internship is available for all public health workers willing to take the initiative to gain work experience – doing that at home. 

The internship is available for pre-health, undergraduate, and graduate-level participants who wish to broadly explore public and global health issues. You will learn how the community addresses pressing issues such as maternal and child health, chronic diseases, reproductive health, and even infectious diseases. Also, you can explore how health systems deliver healthcare worldwide in various environments.

Benefits of a public health virtual internship

There are plenty of benefits to being a virtual health virtual intern. Some of these include

• Gain real-life work experience at the convenience of your house.
• Broaden your global perspective and ability to work and collaborate internationally. This skill is crucial when providing patient care and working with diverse populations.
• Develop crucial 21st-century skills necessary to succeed—problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and leadership.
• Opportunity to boost your professional resume and credentials with outstanding health experiences, including community outreach, clinical expertise, public health, and education.
• Learn to use technology and innovation to drive social change in communities facing health inequity and other challenges.

Types of Virtual Internships

There are a variety of public health worker Internships you can opt for. Child Family International (CFHI) has some impressive internships available for virtual students. They include

#1. Global Health Comparative: Virtual Internship

The Global Health comparative virtual internship offers pre-health, undergraduate, and graduate-level students learning opportunities. The internship will help to enhance their skills and fundamental knowledge of global health. As an intern, you will engage in deep learning about a country’s care system and receive high-value sessions and facilitated seminars with a broad network of global partners.

The internship incorporates two different health system lectures by the Round Tables attended by CFHI’s Medical Directors (bimonthly) and the CFHI global team (weekly) to provide you with a comparative lens on global health. Interestingly, you may not have to focus on the country where you live. Hence you will gain cross-cultural learning opportunities on country-specific health topics.

Components of the program

The following are the components of the global health comparative virtual internship.

• Competency-informed content and readings
• Intercultural training and sessions through CFHI partner Aperian Global
• Virtual sessions by CFHI Global Team
• Facilitated group reflection sessions
• Cultural learning or virtual immersion
• Seminars and discussions on health topics
• Depending on the location, you may perform project-based work to deepen your understanding of local health realities and support the objectives and operations of the host organization/partners.
• A maximum of 30 hours of Spanish language learning (especially for Latin American countries)
• Final report and presentation to synthesize learning

#2. Virtual Global & Public Health Internship – Uganda

Uganda’s virtual global and public health internships are available for pre-health, undergraduate, and graduate-level students. The opportunity aims to enable students to learn industry-specific skills and foundational skills for careers in public health, global health, and related fields.

In the organization, you will explore how Ugandans address the most pressing health issues, including maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV, and other infectious diseases. You’ll be able to network with NGO professionals and healthcare providers who are willing to improve public and clinical health outcomes in Uganda.

Components of the program

The following are the components of the Virtual Global & Public Health Internship in Uganda.

• Competency-informed content and readings
• Intercultural training
• Virtual sessions led by experts in local health systems and culture
• Facilitated group reflection sessions
• Cultural learning and virtual immersion
• Seminars on health topics
• Depending on the location, you may perform project-based work to deepen your understanding of local health realities and support the operations and objectives of the host organization.

Not that the virtual global and public health internships in Uganda are unpaid.

#3. Virtual Global & Public Health Internship – Ecuador (Quito)

The Virtual Global & Public Health Internship in Ecuador (Quito) is available for undergraduate and graduate-level participants interested in industry-specific skills and learning foundational careers in public health global Health and related fields. This internship is specific to knowing and understanding how the communities in Ecuador address their most pressing health challenges.

Components of the program

The following are the components of the Virtual Global & Public Health Internship in Ecuador (Quito)

• Intercultural training through CFHI partner Aperian Global
• 30 hours of Spanish instruction
• Competency-informed readings and content
• Virtual sessions by CFHI Global Partners, who are experts in cultures and local health systems. Note that most lectures will be given in English. However, lectures in Spanish will be with an English translation.
• Facilitated group reflection sessions
• Virtual immersion and cultural learning
• Seminars on health topics

Note that the internship is also unpaid.

#4. Virtual Global & Public Health Internship – Ghana

The Ghana virtual global and public health internship is also available for students of all grades and levels. Through the virtual meeting and seminar, you will explore how the communities in Ghana address their most pressing health challenges that cut across infectious diseases, child and maternal health, nutrition, etc. In addition, you will have the opportunity to network with outstanding healthcare providers and non-governmental organization professionals who work to improve public and clinical healthcare outcomes in Ghana.

Components of the program

The following are the components of the Virtual Global & Public Health Internship in Ghana

• Intercultural training program through the Child Family Health International partner Aperian Global
• Virtual sessions led by the organization’s Global Partners, who are unique in local health systems and culture
• Facilitated group reflection sessions
• Competency-informed readings
• Cultural learning and virtual immersion
• Seminars on health topics

Frequently asked questions

Can you intern virtually?

Yes, virtual internship placements are equivalent to obtaining work experience as an intern. However, you have to do it in the comfort of your home. Through the internship, you will communicate with your employers through various resources, including Microsoft Teams, Skype, Slack, and email.

Are virtual internships good on a CV?

Yes, virtual internships are pretty attractive on your resume. It will make it much easier for your future employer to notice your experience working remotely, giving you a better chance of employment, especially in an organization with a non-conventional professional environment like hybrid work.

What should I wear to a virtual internship interview?

You may wear a button-down shirt and nice slacks for a virtual internship interview. Ladies have many more options for internship interview wear, but a similar look will work well. So try a tailored blazer, pants, and blouse. Men may give their look a touch of brown or black loafers, while women can wear colorful patterned heels to make everything pop.

How do you introduce yourself in a virtual internship?

To introduce yourself in a virtual Internship, you can begin with your name and communicate your excitement about joining the organization. Also, include that you will be working on a specific team and show your excitement to meet your teammates and the rest of the interns and employees in the organization.

What skills can you gain from virtual work experience?

A crucial skill you can gain from virtual work experience is transferable skills. This is because working from home and participating in a virtual work placement is not always easy. However, it will help you develop soft skills employers seek, such as time management, self-motivation, and organization skills.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, you can proceed with your virtual public health internships with the information provided in this prose. Many organizations are looking forward to interns working with them. Therefore, do your research and choose the one that excites you most.