Hey, to all starting this fall in health policy and management
- what are good resources for intersnhip research? )..for summer 2010

I want to get a good sense of how to go about applying for internships, networking, and etc.

I know that college career services are helpful, but in general, i wanted to get a good drip on the research and resources online as well...

looking forward to hearing back from you all.

Thanks in advance :)

I'll be interested in this too

Hope this helps!

1. Look at the research that professors at your school are involved with or at any school you want to attend. If your university doesn't have a school of public health-tap into political science, economics, or sociology-health disparities, access to care, etc are all multi-disciplinary fields. Contact these professors and see if they have any summer opportunities. Read up on his/her research so you can directly say why you're interested in that person's work. Be persistent-professors are busy people!

2. One of my favorites to locate policy internships/fellowships: http://www.kaiseredu.org/fellowships/default.aspx

Kaiser=AWESOME!!!

3. If you're interested in the legislative process-intern on Capitol Hill or for your state legislature. With all the current health reform-it is an exciting time to be on the Hill. Try: http://www.hillzoo.com/ More likely than not, you will have to apply for several positions, so don't get frustrated-it's well worth the effort. Applying for an internship with a Congressperson from your home state is said to be helpful. Also, follow up your application with a phone call to make your application stand out from the crowd.

4. In terms of networking-I suggest two things. First, get to know professors who work in field that you're interested (e.g. popping into office hours and just having a conversation). Not only could this provide an extraordinary wealth of knowledge, but also it could help with LORs later in the process. Second, talk to Ph.D students, who are an untapped resource. I find that in public health, grad students have phenomenal prior experiences and have contacts from these experiences. It is likely that they would love to help a burgeoning passionate public health student out!

If you go to a seminar and enjoy the presentation-talk to the presenter. You never know what they might have to offer. Be willing to put yourself out there. Don't forget to send thank you notes!

Get started early!

GL