Practicum

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MPH students have the opportunity to complete a Practicum where they partner with an external community partner to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.

FAQs

The Practicum is one of the options in the MPH program that satisfy the culminating experience requirement for graduation. The Practicum gives students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-world public health issues.

Students who choose to do a Practicum will partner with an external community partner to design and implement a public health applied project. Students will identify two mentors who will guide them through their Practicum. The community site mentor will provide practical guidance to the student on project implementation. The faculty mentor will provide assistance in shaping the student’s project and will provide general guidance in the professional development of the student.

Students typically select the Practicum community site based on their career and educational goals. Faculty members in the Public Health department are also available to assist students who are exploring possible community sites.

Students who choose to do a Practicum begin in the summer after their first year of coursework in the MPH program. Students must register for MPH 596 during the first summer and MPH 598 in the fall of their second year. Students will draft and submit a Practicum Proposal Form to their mentors for review and approval. Students will also submit progress reports to their mentors on a monthly basis. The Practicum ends with the student submitting a final paper and presenting their portfolio to students, faculty and mentors.

By the end of the Practicum, students must demonstrate attainment of at least five public health competencies (of which three must be foundational competencies) as defined by the Council on Education for Public Health. Assessment of a student’s competency attainment is through a portfolio approach. Portfolio products must map and show clear attainment of designated competencies. Each student’s portfolio may contain a minimum of two products (mapping to more than one competency) or a maximum of five products (each mapping to one competency). Portfolio products are typically planned and identified within the proposal form, but development of new products not initially defined in the proposal are acceptable.

There is no hourly requirement for the Practicum, since assessment is deliverable-based. However, students can expect to dedicate between 10-20 hours per week at their community site.

If you need more information about our Practicum program and its requirements, contact Anna Price, Ph.D., MCHES.

Are you ready to host an MPH student at your organization? Complete this form and we will be in contact with you.

Practicums Completed by MPH Students While Enrolled at SHU

Joseph Gyimah

Gyimah is addressing flu vaccination coverage for seniors in Bridgeport, CT. People 65 years and older are at increased risk of developing serious complications from the flu compared to younger adults. Gyimah will be promoting the flu vaccine by creating health communication products including infographics, fact sheets, flyers or a short public service announcement (PSA) video. This, coupled with direct community outreach to senior homes, will encourage more people to sign up to be vaccinated and address easier as well as more accessible ways to learn about the Fluzone high dose vaccine.

Community Site: Bridgeport Health and Social Services Department

Noelle Labozzo

Labozzo is addressing food justice and food insecurity in Bridgeport, CT,by working with the Bridgeport Farmers Market Collaborative and Green Village Initiative. Labozzo will be working with local youth within Green Village Initiative to conduct a photovoice project that empowers community members to document their food conditions and experiences. This will ultimately increase community participation to advocate for change in the Bridgeport food system.

Community Sites: Green Village Initiative, Bridgeport Farmers Market Collaborative

Carmen Ortega

Ortega is addressing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Norwalk, CT, coordinating vaccine clinics for adults, adolescents and children at the federally qualified health center, Norwalk Community Health Center (NCHC). These vaccination efforts will assist the local health department to increase vaccination rates among residents of younger ages to help curb COVID-19 within the city. Norwalk has achieved a 100% vaccination rate for the 65 and older age group and is actively working on achieving the same rate of vaccination for other age groups.

Community Site: Norwalk Community Health Center

Orlando Segui

Segui is addressing vaccine hesitancy as well as increasing patient-provider trust among the Hispanic population within Bridgeport and Hartford, CT. The program aims to discover the barriers that Bridgeport and Hartford residents face when seeking vaccination and health care as well as to educate local health care workers on the public’s concerns. This program aims to raise trust and promote better health outcomes within these communities.

Community Site: Make the Road Connecticut

Erika Van Wagner

Van Wagner is implementing a new program that is aimed at addressing the opportunity for improvement of a community health and wellness committee as well as current wellness policies in Meriden, CT. In addition to creating a more full-bodied committee, there will be expanded opportunities for student representatives from the high schools, faculty and other community stakeholders to partake in events within the committee. Ultimately, the program will allow more individuals to have their voices heard regarding the implementation of health and wellness strategies, as well as an updated and more efficient wellness policy benefitting the district and community.

Community Site: Meriden Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services

Jeffrey Young

Young is addressing health literacy constraints using an Apple iPad and “X-Plain,” a web-based application that provides health related information. Working as a supplemental member of the treatment team at Sarah Neuman – The New Jewish Home, he will educate residents in post-acute and long-term units about aspects of their injuries and/or illnesses. The goal of the program is to increase residents’ knowledge regarding their morbidity or injury and to promote positive health behaviors both inside and outside of the facility.

Community Site: Sarah Neuman - The New Jewish Home

Simone Sesse

Sesse is addressing sexually transmitted infection epidemiologic surveillance in Stratford, CT, by implementing surveillance and reporting improvement strategies. Additionally, the project will develop educational tools to increase the awareness of sexually transmitted infections among teenagers and young adults living in Stratford and will support the Know Your Numbers Campaign to reduce chronic disease prevalence.

Community Site: Stratford Health Department

Caroline Burns

Burns is addressing childhood poverty in four census tract areas in the Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut. This will be done through a Collective Impact Survey to obtain the stories and lived experiences of the families living in the selected census tract areas. Collective Impact is a public health framework that is used to understand complex social problems. The Collective Impact Survey is the first step in facilitating a systems change to overcome the barriers of the high rate of childhood poverty in the Naugatuck Valley. Additionally, Burns will assist with the implementation of specific objectives to improve Maternal and Infant Health outcomes in the Valley, identified in the Naugatuck Valley Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

Community Sites: Valley Community Foundation, Naugatuck Valley Health District

Brianna Collins

Collins is addressing episodic and chronic migraines by adding to the limited research on preventative therapies to improve the quality of life for people who suffer from migraines. Collins will develop and implement a prospective survey to assess frequency and consistency of weekly migraine attacks, adverse effects of medications, and early discontinuation of treatments over a period of time. Collins will also work on analyzing the data, compiling the results and will communicate findings to key stakeholders.

Community Site: Biohaven Pharmaceuticals

Felicia Creary

Creary is supporting infectious disease management efforts at the Maureen Hamilton Wellness Center by creating and maintaining a follow-up care procedure for students attending Sacred Heart University. In addition to tracking the number of current COVID-19 cases, Creary also monitors symptoms contacts students based on the response. The flu is also an area of concern for health advisors on campus; Creary is working to support flu awareness and vaccination campaigns. Ultimately, the project will aim to assist in the prevention of an outbreak on campus and within the neighboring community.

Community Site: Maureen Hamilton Wellness Center

Debrina Hudson

Hudson is supporting contact tracing efforts with Sacred Heart’s Department of Public Safety to prevent an increase of COVID-19 cases. Hudson conducts contact tracing interviews for early detection of the virus. In addition to conducting these interviews, Hudson also trains and on boards new university contact tracers. Hudson is regularly communicating with the Connecticut Department of Public Health through the ContaCT system to provide situation updates. Ultimately, the program aims to prevent additional transmission of the virus, keeping the University safe.

Community Site: SHU Department of Public Safety

Kylie Lauterbach

Lauterbach is supporting infectious disease prevention efforts with the Stratford Health Department. Lauterbach works to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases by contact tracing confirmed positive results within the Stratford community and also collaborates with the Stratford Public Schools Nursing Supervisor to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among school-age children. In addition to this, Lauterbach is also organizing flu vaccination clinics in the area to promote vaccine use and increase rates of vaccination. Ultimately the goal is to reduce the incidence of infectious and vaccine preventable diseases in local communities.

Community Site: Stratford Health Department

Angelika Andrukiewicz

Andrukiewicz is addressing childhood obesity in Bristol, Connecticut by establishing and creating a fresh produce voucher program for low-income families. The BBHD Family Food Program will increase fruit and vegetable consumption by engaging families in the community to use fresh produce vouchers to get healthy foods for their families each week at the Bristol’s Farmers Market. In addition to providing these vouchers, the program will build stronger relationships between community organizations and the BBHD to help discuss other community needs. Ultimately, the program will aim to reduce childhood obesity within the community by implementing the program each year.

Community Site: Bristol-Burlington Health District (BBHD)

Gabrielle Diaz

Diaz is addressing e-cigarette use in youth living in Stratford, Fairfield, and Trumbull, Connecticut by developing a school-based e-cigarette prevention program in middle and high schools. Additionally, the program will focus on parents and will provide information to those who are unaware of the dangers of e-cigarettes. The program will also provide resources to students who want to quit. Ultimately, the program will aim to properly educate and promote positive well-being. It will allow smokers and e-cigarette users to take control of their health and their decision making.

Community site: Stratford Health Department

Kylie Elimanco

Elimanco is addressing the health and development of mothers and babies in Bridgeport, CT. The program will incorporate aspects of the Bridgeport Prospers’ “Baby Bundle” initiative into the MOMS Partnership Project from the Yale School of Medicine. This will work to provide information and education for women to assure that they have access to the resources they need in order to take care of their health and increase developmental readiness of their children. Ultimately, the program will aim to reduce the number of over-burdened and under resourced mothers and increase the number of children who are preschool and Kindergarten “ready”.

Community Site: Bridgeport Prospers - United Way

"I have to give the MPH program at SHU all of the credit for getting me where I am today. With the constant support from the professors, endless opportunities and excellent curriculum, I knew I was ready to enter the public health world. Whether I am going into schools and hosting trainings with our youth, providing support at workgroup meetings with coalition members, participating at community partner committee meetings or brainstorming about next steps, every day is about being in the community, ensuring health and wellness. The most valuable lesson that the MPH program taught me is that change happens when your boots are on the ground. It does not matter what city you are in, who your audience is or what your experience level is, if the relationships within your community are not sustained, there simply will be no change. The program taught me that you can move mountains in your community as long as you are out there talking to neighbors and asking them what they need and how you can support them." - Kylie Elimanco BS '18, MPH '20, Prevention Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health Institute

Jeanette Fornaci

Fornaci is addressing health disparities in the Greater Bridgeport Region by working with Bridgeport Hospital to make the region a Health Enhancement Community. In line with the State of Connecticut’s strategic plan, the Health Enhancement Community Initiative aims to foster community-wide collaboration to promote community health improvement and equity. The goal of this project is to reduce adverse childhood experiences and improve healthy lifestyles in the Greater Bridgeport Region.

Community Site: Bridgeport Hospital

Meeghan Doris

Doris is addressing influenza (flu) vaccination rates in Bridgeport, CT by assessing current behaviors and promoting the importance of vaccination within the community. This program will consist of an assessment of current attitudes towards influenza vaccinations, followed by a series of health communication strategies within the community; including an informational presentation to promote vaccinations during the Center for Disease Control’s National Influenza Vaccination Week. This program aims to educate community members on the severity of influenza, the importance of vaccination, and will ultimately increase influenza vaccination rates in Bridgeport.

Community Site: Southwestern Connecticut Area Health Education Center (AHEC)