Program Details

  • Cohort of 30-35 students will participate in a rigorous 8-week workforce training program (Sunday, June 23 – Saturday, August 17, 2024). 

  • Scholars are matched with partnering organizations and contribute to public health efforts full-time, three days per week. 

  • Scholars attend structured programming two days per week designed to build public health knowledge, develop professional skills, and learn about professional and educational opportunities. 

  • Scholars participate in a research poster showcase hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia alongside Public Health Scholars from other programs across the nation. The Showcase is tentatively planned for the last of week of July 2024.

  • Scholars are housed at the UCLA campus at no cost. 

  • Scholars are provided with a Metro TAP Card to subsidize public transportation costs.

  • Scholars receive a $3,000 stipend, $800 to cover some meals, and $200 for optional transportation. The total amount of $4,000 is distributed in three installments throughout the program (start of program, halfway, and a week after program completion). NOTE: this amount is not meant to cover all costs associated with the program. It is the scholar’s discretion how the funds are allocated for personal use. Scholars are considered UCLA students and are not employed by UCLA or their internship host site and do not receive per diem, health insurance, or other benefits associated with full-time employment.

  • Scholars that do not live within a 300-mile radius of UCLA will have their transportation to and from Los Angeles arranged by the program team. Checked luggage, local mileage, and transportation to and from the airport cannot be reimbursed.

Program Schedule

Programming on Mondays and Fridays is dedicated to presentations, workshops, and panels that contextualize and compliment what scholars are learning at their internships. 

Faculty from the Fielding School of Public Health serve as hosts who facilitate “Framing the Issue” presentations on the public health topic of the week. The topics covered during the 2023 summer program include: 

  • Racism and Health  

  • Education and Community Health 

  • Health Care Policy 

  • Infectious and Tropical Diseases  

  • Disaster Relief and Emergency Preparedness 

Presentations are followed by interactive workshops with the cohort and research presentations from subject matter experts.

Student groups assigned to a specific week will work with faculty members to assign readings to peers and moderate a reading discussion. They will also moderate a panel of public health professionals that work on issues related to that week’s public health. 

Professional Development

Scholars are actively engaged in professional development over the course of the summer, including, but not limited to:  

  • Resume and Cover Letter Writing  

  • LinkedIn  

  • Networking  

  • Personal Statement Development 

  • Literature Reviews  

Workshops are conducted by the Office of Career and Professional Development at the Fielding School of Public Health as well as other members of the UCLA community.