The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is proud to announce the Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.) Field Placement Program, in partnership with the Public Health Training Centers located at Emory University and the University of Georgia, beginning in the summer of 2012.     

The goal of the program is to provide competency and practice-based experiences for the future public health workforce by placing M.P.H. students in real-world public health settings. Projects are intended to enhance a student's professional skills and knowledge while giving them the opportunity to use skills learned in the classroom. Students will apply for individual placements at the state, district or county health departments during the summer, fall and spring semesters and they will complete a defined public health project.     

In an effort to streamline the process, the DPH Office of Training and Workforce Development is serving as a central repository for possible field placement projects. We would like to extend an invitation to state, district or county health departments for their participation as a field placement site. As a field placement site, you will identify projects, interview top candidates for your project, guide and mentor the student. The length of the summer field placements is a minimum of 300 hours that can be achieved over a period of 10-12 weeks. The length of the fall and spring field placements is between 150-300 hours over a period of 10-15 weeks per semester. 

The Public Health Field Placement Program is a win-win for Georgia. It provides an opportunity for the future public health workforce to get hands-on experience while assisting with real projects. We strongly encourage your participation to help shape the future generation of public health in our state. If you would like more information or are interested in being a field placement site, please contact L'laina Rash at 404-463-2643 or ltrash@dhr.state.ga.us.