If you are early in your career, internships can provide opportunities to gain practical experience in local public health. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) supports a local health internship program -- some of which are paid -- which includes opportunities for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral-level students attending one of the Commonwealth’s colleges or universities, including community college. In addition, some local health departments host interns independent of state programs, and have their own applications and recruitment processes.
Internships also offer important opportunities to work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities across the Commonwealth. Interns can gain firsthand knowledge and develop skills to provide equitable, respectful, and quality care and services that are responsive to the health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, and other important needs of diverse communities.