Community Partners

Partnership Overview

Our program thrives through the dedication of community partners and our network of Professional Mentors. Each summer, we welcome scholars from across the U.S. to Los Angeles to gain hands-on public health experience. We collaborate with community-based organizations, health systems, and local health departments across Los Angeles to provide internship opportunities for our scholars.

Internship Structure

As a workforce development program, the internship is essential to preparing scholars to navigate real-world public health settings. Scholars report to their internship site three full days per week throughout the 8-week program (approx. 140 hrs). Many scholars are completing their first in-person internship, living away from home, and commuting for the first time, making the support of the Professional Mentors especially meaningful.

Role of Site and Professional Mentor

Internship site supervisors also serve as our Professional Mentors, offering guidance and support to foster the professional growth of our scholars. Roles of Professional Mentors include:

  • Providing a planned, supervised, and meaningful experiential learning experience

  • Assisting scholars with the development of their workplan

  • Meeting weekly with scholar one-on-one to reflect on progress, areas for improvement, and weekly log prompts

  • Participating in a Professional Mentor orientation and a site visit with program staff

  • Completing a mentor evaluation at the end of the program

Internship Experience

Working alongside experienced Professional Mentors, our scholars engage in a variety of efforts. Scholars’ internship responsibilities may include:

  • Creating surveys and resource guides

  • Assisting with literature reviews and strategic plans

  • Coordinating vaccine clinics

  • Conducting health education and prevention workshops

While scholars may occasionally perform administrative tasks, these are not the primary focus of their experience. The goal is for scholars to make meaningful contributions to community health while developing essential professional and leadership skills. 

Note: We do not offer clinical or laboratory based internships.

For questions: Email Dr. Andrea Salcedo, Public Health Specialist, at asalcedo@ph.ucla.edu

Partner with us

Are you a Los Angeles-based organization interested in hosting a UCLA Public Health summer scholar?

Please register below and we will be in touch. We look forward to connecting with you!

Register by clicking here

Hear from our Professional Mentors

  • Edith Ramirez, Community Health Manager, California Hospital Medical Center,

    "Serving as a first year mentor for the UCLA Public Health Scholars Program was an incredibly meaningful experience. At California Hospital Medical Center, our Mind Matters program teaches grounding mental health skills for the community, and our scholar learned the tools and independently facilitated them for our maternity tours with new and expecting mothers. Seeing their confidence grow and watching them apply what they've learned in a setting of community health reaffirmed the power of mentorship. I'm grateful for this opportunity and hope to continue supporting in the years ahead" 

  • Frances Saunders, Fund Development Manager, California Black Women's Health Project

    “My experience of the UCLA Scholars Program was stellar.  California Black Women's Health Project greatly benefited from participating as a partner in this program.  Our scholar worked well with our organization and staff and remains connected to our work.  We look forward to continuing working together as we have learned just as much from the program and our scholar as we hope they have learned from us.” 

  • Sean Inoue, Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Division, American Red Cross

    "The UCLA Public Health Scholars program was incredibly meaningful to be a part of. It created a unique space where theory meets real-world community needs, allowing our teams to learn about emerging developments in public health academia while sharing a practitioner’s perspective and evolving traditional tactics. Our intern brought fresh curiosity and ideas that challenged entrenched models, helping us better serve our mission and the residents we aim to support while contributing to the development of the next generation of leaders in this space. I highly recommend this program to both prospective mentors and scholars!" 

  • Magali Sanchez-Hall, Director of the EMeRGE movement

    “Being a mentor in the UCLA Public Health Scholars Program has been deeply fulfilling. I’ve been inspired by the scholars’ commitment to environmental justice and their desire to address the health impacts faced by marginalized communities. Supporting their growth and vision for equitable public health solutions has been truly rewarding. I’m honored to contribute to their journey.”