UKCPH aims to supply our graduates with the right tools, experiences, partnerships, and confidence to make an impact.
“Developing our future public health workforce is essential and requires pipeline pathways with strategic partners, says Janie Cambron, CPH’s current Associate Dean for Practice and Workforce Development.
Cambron was tapped to lead practicum and workforce development initiatives through service and partnerships and is working to enhance existing, as well as develop new partnerships for student engagement and practice opportunities.
Along with years of professional experience, Cambron brings perspectives from both local and state public health departments across many different disciplinary areas of public health, but also wants to expand the reach for students to include both traditional and non-traditional public health placements.
“I want students to feel that they belong here as well as wherever their career path takes them. I want them to explore many facets of the public health system and gain insight on potential career paths,” Cambron says. “We are very thankful and grateful for our public health partners, like the Kentucky Department for Public Health, for giving our students valuable internship opportunities.”
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) is a primary partner of the UKCPH and is committed to enhancing collaboration for student internships and practice opportunities. Over the past year, UKCPH has worked with KDPH to improve the internship and practicum application process, and the myriad of projects that students can take advantage of.
“We are thankful for our partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. We’ve worked hard to streamline our processes over the past year to make it easier for students to be placed, as well as for identification of projects within our organization. We have hosted great students, with several to work for us after their practicum is finished. This is exactly what we like to see, where students are successful and our organization retains them as quality employees,” said Lindsey Brewer, Student Internship Program Coordinator, Center for Foundational Health at the KDPH.
The following CPH students received paid, internship and/or practicum placement at the KDPH during the Fall and Spring 2023 semesters (listed in alphabetical order by first name):
As an example, University Scholars student Ashley Duff (pictured) is gaining valuable experiences with the KDPH, working with the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program on a survey of local health departments and their tobacco cessation offerings for the community.
"This information is vital to understanding the capacity of local public health. Ashley has exceeded expectations with her internship, working quickly and accurately to collect information and then create compelling visuals to share the information," says Elizabeth Hoagland, Section Supervisor at the KDPH.
Ashley was also able to attend the recent 2023 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, jointly hosted by the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program and the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy at University of Kentucky College of Nursing.
“Serving and meeting the needs of our communities and partners in the public health system helps increase our academic and practice partnerships at CPH,” says Cambron.
“We are always looking for more ways to get our students plugged into service, internships, and practicum opportunities. We also aim to increase the availability of sites for our students to learn and impact moving forward, so are actively seeking additional opportunities,” adds Cambron.
To learn more about career and workforce development initiatives, projects, and practicum hosting opportunities, visit here or contact Janie Cambron.
To learn more about our people, programs, and passion for public health, visit cph.uky.edu.
