Community Health Internship Program

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Community Health Internship Program: "CHIP"

Summer Opportunities for Internships in Public Health Departments

AHEC summer intern programs provide research opportunities for students and assistance to local health departments.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Programs in each AHEC region across the state are somewhat different, but each has at its core a partnership with local health departments to develop research projects and provide mentoring for health professions students interested in an intensive summer experience in community health. The placement is 8 weeks during June and July.

ELIGIBILITY: In addition to having an interest in community health, candidates must be Wisconsin residents or attending a college or university in Wisconsin, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and enrolled in a college program preparing for work in a health profession.

MILWAUKEE: The Milwaukee Community Health Internship Program (known as "Milwaukee CHIP") started in the summer of 2000 as a partnership between Milwaukee AHEC, the UW Medical School Clinical Campus at Sinai-Samaritan Medical Center, and city and county public health agencies in Milwaukee. Students participate in a research program, including a seminar providing them with an orientation to research and an opportunity to share their progress. Specific projects are arranged with the public health agencies. Students receive a modest stipend to help defray their living costs. Students will have an opportunity to present their research at the conclusion of their projects. Applications for the Milwaukee program are available in January and due in April. Students interested in projects in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties are encouraged to apply to the Milwaukee CHIP program. Read more about Milwaukee CHIP as described on the Milwakuee AHEC website.

STATEWIDE: Wisconsin AHEC's statewide CHIP is for students who are interested in a community health internship placement in a variety of locations throughout the state. Wisconsin AHEC staff members work with numerous public health departments to develop suitable intern projects and identify mentors located in many counties. Statewide placement process: During the application process, students are invited to express a preference for matching with a particular location as well as a specific community health project that furthers their academic area of interest. Applications are available beginning in December and due in February. A list of potential projects is usually available by December. For many interns, their CHIP host health departments may be located near their home towns or within commuting distance of their college campuses. Please note that a local connection will make it easier to arrange summer housing; limited housing options may be available at CHIP placement sites.In addition to completing the local project in their host community, interns participate in a full-group orientation day on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus to kick off the program. Throughout the summer, Wisconsin AHEC sponsors Web-based instruction on community health principles and practice; CHIP interns can participate remotely from their placement sites.

Summer 2012
CHIP program dates: June 4 -July 27, 2012
Statewide program orientation day: Friday, June 1

List of 2012 CHIP sites (PDF) - updated December 7

Summer 2012 student application
For reference, you may view last year's program information:
View 2012 program information and application materials

Last Updated on December 16, 2011