Building the Future of Public Health Workforce: Comprehensive Internship Program at Hawai'i Public Health Institute

Area of Science:

• Public Health Workforce Development
• Internship Program Design
• Public Health Education

Background:

• The United States public health sector faces a significant workforce shortage, exacerbated by professionals leaving state and local health departments.
• Developing a robust pipeline of new public health professionals is essential for maintaining essential public health services and responding to crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of internship programs in cultivating the next generation of public health professionals.
• To examine the Hawai'i Public Health Institute's internship program as a model for other organizations.
• To provide insights and recommendations for establishing and enhancing public health internship initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of application and acceptance data from the Hawai'i Public Health Institute (HIPHI) internship program (2020-2023).
• Characterization of intern demographics, including academic level and major.
• Description of program components, such as diverse placements and training opportunities.

Main Results:

• HIPHI received 258 applications and accepted 119 interns (46% acceptance rate) between 2020 and 2023.
• Interns were predominantly bachelor's (69%) and master's (24%) level students, with most (66%) majoring in public health.
• The program provided varied placements and training, including orientation, webinars, and field excursions.

Conclusions:

• Internship programs are vital for addressing public health workforce shortages and building a sustainable pipeline.
• Recommendations include fostering collaboration, supporting host sites, sharing best practices, and promoting leadership development.
• A holistic strategy with program evaluation is necessary for a resilient public health workforce capable of addressing current and future health challenges.