Wisconsin AHEC Statewide
Community Health Internship Program

This June, Wisconsin AHEC will launch its 4th annual Statewide Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) with a record 23 interns. Another 30 interns will participate in the Milwaukee-based CHIP program.

This innovative program allows undergraduate and graduate students to gain real-world knowledge and experience while contributing to local public health programming throughout the state. Health department mentors provide technical support and assistance as well as facilitate shadowing opportunities to help interns gain an understanding of the scope and challenges of public health practice.

Projects address a range of issues, including chronic disease prevention, environmental health monitoring and research, community health education, program planning and evaluation, and policy development. Interns work full time throughout the 8-week program and receive a stipend. On-site learning is complemented by distance education activities, including a group weblog and weekly virtual seminars led by academic and community experts on a variety of topics.

Program evaluations have been very favorable. Over 90% of interns express gaining new knowledge, skills, and being more interested in a public health career as a result of their participation. The program enables local health departments to achieve what they otherwise could not, given chronic limitations in funding for staff and projects.