Internships

The World Federation of Public Health Associations offers unpaid internships in conjunction with the Center for Learning and Global Health Resources Unit of the American Public Health Association (APHA). The internships are available to students and graduates interested in international public health issues. Interns will work at the WFPHA Secretariat, housed in APHA headquarters in downtown Washington, DC, USA.

WFPHA offers a unique environment for an internship for students in international health and development. Interns are given substantial responsibility for performing activities such as researching and writing articles for the newsletter, establishing contact with health and development NGOs around the world, planning international conferences, and fundraising. Each internship is structured to suit the needs and interests of the intern, such as working on an individual research assignment, as well as the requirements of WFPHA. Interns may have the opportunity to participate in the formulation of WFPHA policy resolutions or papers, depending on circumstances.

In addition to working for WFPHA, international health interns would have an opportunity to interact with staff and interns of APHA's government relations and scientific staff, as well as individuals involved in the International Health section of APHA’s membership. During the course of the internship, the students will further develop their writing and research skills and become more familiar with the key issues and actors in international health and development. There would be no travel opportunities, but there would be extensive networking opportunities as WHPHA is an international NGO in official relations with WHO and UNICEF and has extensive contacts with other organizations in the US and around the world.

Interns are provided with office space, phone, fax, computer with e-mail and internet capabilities and other office equipment and supplies. Internships are unpaid. WFPHA’s Secretariat Staff will supervise the interns.

Eligibility

APHA offers unpaid internships to college and graduate students, as well as recent graduates. Many of our interns are undergraduate students, public health or public policy graduate students, medical school students interested in policy work, or law students with an interest in international health policy or public interest law.

International Health internships are offered to those with strong academic backgrounds who seek an experience in international public health and who possess strong writing and research skills. Interns should be able to work fairly independently and should ideally be knowledgeable about the major issues in the field of international health and development.

Availability

Opportunities for internships are available year-round and can be developed for a 3-4 month period, an academic semester, or a full year. To ensure that the intern maximizes his/her experience, candidates must be able to work a minimum of 20-25 hours a week. Candidates who can work full time are preferred.

Compensation

APHA internships are unpaid.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for an internship, please review the internship information on the APHA website and complete the online application.

Please note that, in addition to the online application, you are asked to also submit the following additional items to resume@apha.org:

  • Cover Letter: indicating your specific area(s) of interest and expertise, what you hope to gain from the internship and your availability and schedule.
  • Resume
  • Writing Sample: preferably 2 to 3 pages in length that demonstrates analytic skills
  • Three References: academic or professional (please supply names and phone numbers of three individuals for whom you have worked or with whom you have taken a class and who know you well enough to discuss your qualifications).
  • Transcript

Application Deadlines

While internships are available year-round, students may also intern for a specific academic period or for the summer. Please note the following suggested timelines. Start and end times are negotiable.

  Semester/Term

Fall

Spring

Summer

Approximate Timelines

Sept. 1 - Dec. 15

Jan. 15 - May 1

June 1 - Aug. 15

Application Deadline

July 15

Dec. 1

March 15

Please feel free to contact Ms. Morgan Taylor, Global Health Manager, at +1.202.777.2428 if you have specific questions about the internship program.