VA Hires Five Public Health Interns

Five public health students were recently hired by the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center after completing internships there. The College of Public Health “field experience” (also called an internship) is the culminating activity in both the undergraduate and graduate public health and health administration degrees.  It is intended to challenge students to observe and practically apply the knowledge and skills presented in public health coursework in a practice-based setting. 

“Gaining employment opportunities is one of the most important parts of the field experience,” said Whitney Oliver, Bachelor of Sciences Health Administration Coordinator. “When students are able to apply what they learned in the classroom in a real world setting, they come to understand how important and impactful their education has been.. We are incredibly proud of these students and all those that have landed employment opportunities.”

During their field experience, students enter the “real world” of health practice and make the transition from student to health professional. 

“The field experience provides students the opportunity to take the academic knowledge, teamwork, leadership, and public speaking skills learned in the classroom into practice and also gives students an avenue to give back to the community through this semester long experience,” said Taylor Dula, Assistant Dean for Student Services.  “Students often consider their field experience the best feature of our public health and health administration programs.”

Kelsi McKamey and Whitney Rogers, recent alumnae of the Master of Public Health in Public Health Administration program, were hired as Advanced Medical Support Assistants.  

Thomas Pugh, Bachelor of Public Health in Health Administration alumnus, was also hired as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant.  McKenzie Cruze and Malikhi Campbell, alumni of the Bachelor of Public Health in Health Administration program, were hired as Medical Support Assistants.  

“Many thanks to our students for working hard, our faculty for preparing and mentoring them and our preceptors who strive to give our students these opportunities,” continued Oliver.  “What impressive news this is and how incredible it is to watch our students grow into professionals.”