Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics

The overall purpose of the Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) is to increase the number of under-represented minorities (URMs) in the occupational health professions through a summer enrichment experience. This experience is designed for students who are considering a public health career, but who are not yet familiar with the OHS professions as a career option. Our goal is to provide these students with an experienced-based learning opportunity that motivates and inspires them to continue their academic training through graduate programs in the occupational health professions. The URM students bring not only their technical expertise, but often language and cultural skills that are essential in developing communication and rapport with the worker population. About two-thirds of OHIP projects are with predominantly low wage immigrant worker populations, with the remaining one-third among high hazard industries with some minority representation. OHIP recruitment targets graduate students who are considering additional academic training, third or fourth year undergraduate students especially nursing students, and bachelor's graduates who have not yet embarked on a graduate degree program. As the NIOSH TPG funds are restricted to support graduate students, we have sought and received multi-year funding from TCWF as well as funding on a year-to-year basis from our collaborating partners including ERCs to support the undergraduate component of our program. Our program is based on the concept that, while an 10-week experience is relatively brief, it can serve as an important factor in assisting students to pursue a career in the occupational health professions. Based on both the personal and professional experience of OHIP core staff over the last three decades, it is our opinion that the inclusion of students who have not yet decided on an area of specialized study, whether among undergraduates, post-baccalaureate programs or first year medical students is a highly effective way to recruit new people into occupational health.