The applied practice experience is a mutually beneficial opportunity for both students and host sites where public health students apply the concepts, strategies, and tools acquired throughout the course of their classroom studies in a real-world practice setting. The Office of Public Health Practice seeks to provide many learning opportunities for students - applied practice experiences, community partner volunteer opportunities, and a variety of events to participate in throughout the year.
An applied practice experience (APEx) is also known as a practicum, internship, or externship. It is an essential part of a student’s public health training as they develop into a new public health professional. The APEx provides an opportunity for students to practice the concepts, strategies, and skills from the classroom environment in a real-world setting with an experienced preceptor at a host organization. According to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the applied practice experience should be mutually beneficial to the host organization and the student. APExs are available for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Applied Practicum Experiences Across
735
Sites in TX
35
US States
22
Countries
"The value of our relationship with TAMU SPH is symbiotic in that both the student and HealthPoint benefit from the partnership. Being an FQHC, we frequently have projects that graduate students can provide support. These projects often involve various departments, and students have the opportunity to experience our organization on multiple levels. These experiences contribute to their professional development and expand their knowledge of the health care world through the perspective of an FQHC. We as an organization benefit from having the students because we are able to keep projects moving forward."
"Our opportunity to partner with Texas A&M University School of Public Health provides the excellent opportunity for us to help shape the leaders of tomorrow for Healthcare. The students arrive very well prepared and become a part of our team on day one and provide valuable support to our facility and help challenge for our entire leadership team to grow. I would highly recommend this program to all."
“The practicum experience is an invaluable opportunity for master's level students to apply past experience and didactic education into current, real-world problems. We have been extremely fortunate to host two bright, eager TAMU School of Public Health (SPH) graduate students for their practicum at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. They both played key roles in data collection, problem-solving, and decision making for current and strategic projects for the organization to include an executive health clinic, patient queueing, third party insurance collection, and referral management. Their combined efforts resulted in increased patient and staff satisfaction and real-world savings of approximately $2M for BAMC. It is an honor and privilege to teach, coach, and mentor the next generation of healthcare leaders. I am confident in the quality and professionalism of the graduate students from TAMU SPH and I look forward to continuing the partnership. “
MD Anderson Cancer Center – Office of Patient Experience has served as an internship site for many years. We appreciate that we learn as much from the students as they learn from us. From the first day, they are included in all our department meetings, activities, communications, and opportunities. Our goal for the interns is two-fold – to provide organizational project opportunities which can only be found at MD Anderson, and to provide educational and networking opportunities throughout the institution in which the students learn from MD Anderson leaders about their career field and their career journey. Opportunities include project work with our Service Excellence Program, Patient and Family Advisory Program, and our Patient Satisfaction Survey teams. These opportunities will enhance their classroom education in healthcare administration with experiences that will support their future goals.
Palestine, TX
MPH Health Behavior
“My internship with WHO in the division of health systems office taught me about the contrast between local and national public health needs because they are looking at a much bigger picture.”
Georgetown, TX
MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics
“Studying how influenza and other diseases are treated in hospitals in Ecuador during my study abroad piqued my interest in global health.”
Houston, TX
MPH Health Policy and Management
"I was one of 500 students selected for an internship with the CDC — an opportunity that would not be possible without the top-notch training and connections at the Texas A&M School of Public Health."
"Time and time again people at the school offered incredible opportunities like Disaster Day, Capstone, and Practicum that would not be available anywhere else. It is an extraordinary place."
Philadelphia, PA
MHA Health Policy and Management
“My job at the student health center and my practicum at a large hospital in Las Vegas successfully prepared me for my career in health care administration. I left Texas A&M with valuable skills that I can apply to my future career, and students and faculty who are now considered family.”
A host site is a critical and valued component of the applied practice experience (APEx) for our students. Host sites identify a preceptor who orients the student to the organization (the organization’s physical and organizational structure, vision, and mission); assists the student in developing a work plan; oversees the student and communicates with the student’s APEx Coordinator; and completes an evaluation of the student’s work. An ideal host site incorporates the student into their organization as an additional employee, although we recognize this varies from site to site, as well as based on the student’s program requirements.
Education abroad opportunities are a high-impact experience provided to students by an amazing group of faculty members. These international experience challenge you to think different and grow as a person, a student, and a public health professional.
The Public Health Scholars Program recognizes students who go above and beyond to make the most of their Aggie experience.
EpiAssist students help with outbreak investigations, disasters and emergencies, community health assessments, and other projects across Texas.
This is a student's chance to meet, learn, and network with real world Public Health Professionals without having to pay anything! PHield Trips are designed to provide any SPH student the experience of meeting with and hearing from practitioners in the public health arena.
Each year, the Office of Public Health Practice sponsors the This is Public Health PHoto Contest. Winners are selected from three categories – undergraduate, graduate, and faculty/staff – and are displayed at the school for the coming year.
Heather Clark, DrPH Director of Public Health Practice 979.436.9363 hrclark@tamu.edu
Sara Mendez, DrPH Assistant Director 979.436.9360 spmendez@tamu.edu
Carly Gafford Program Coordinator II 979.436.0504 cbgafford@tamu.edu
