Fieldwork Opportunities as of August 1, 2022 - CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy

Position: Public Health Student Internship

PANDEMIC Adult Vaccination Outreach

Our PANDEMIC proposal, Program to Alleviate National Disparities in Ethnic and Minority Immunizations in the Community, is the intersection of 2 national networks that have been transformative for building trust in the community: the USDA-County Cooperative Extension Program and the NIH-NCATS-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). The Cooperative Extension Program, founded in 1914, operates at every Land Grant University in the nation. Extension Programs focus on health and social issues, such as food security, farm worker safety, and financial well-being. The CTSA program was created in 2005 to improve human health by accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries and the implementation of evidence-based practices to improve health. The PANDEMIC Team has leaders in both Cooperative Extension and CTSA Community Engagement. The PANDEMIC network involves six CTSA hubs and Extension sites in areas of greatest need determined by CDC’s low vaccination rates, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), authentic relationships with partners and underserved populations, their capacity to immediately begin the effort and their history of collaboration. All sites maintain the cardinal principles of community engagement.

We are seeking motivated, highly organized and socially conscious students to assist, supplement, and complement our Community Health Workers (CHWs) in assisting the investigators (A.H. Strelnick, MD, & Cara Stephenson-Hunter, PhD) with the CDC-funded, national PANDEMIC intervention study.

– Interview potential study participants for selection into the study and for the perceptions of COVID=19 prevention, treatment, and vaccination.

– Schedule participants for discussion and informational sessions either remotely or in-person as per study protocol and procedures.

– Revise and develop COVID-19, influenza, and other adult vaccination lesson materials and other study-related materials as needed.

– Gather available community resources for referral of potential clients.

– Collect and enter data, maintain appropriate documentation, and prepare reports.

– Assist with recruitment of study subjects and survey completion.

– Communicate with community-based organizations, small businesses, houses of worship, and health care providers to organize collaborative events for outreach and education.

– Assist with other study-related tasks or other COVID-19 studies within the team as needed.

– Perform other related duties as assigned, especially community- and faith-based event planning, where tabling and individual health education will be conducted.

Location: Block Building, 4^th Floor, Einstein Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY Start date: Student dependent

Work week: Student dependent. Our team works Monday-Friday (flexible face-to-face and/or remote virtual participation); attendance at weekend community events when possible & as needed

To Apply:

Email resume and cover letter to Dr. Hal Strelnick at HSTRELNI@montefiore.org

Position: Spring ’23 Fieldwork for HRSA Maternal & Child Health

Title: Student Internship

Program description: The Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development (DMCHWD) Internship, based in the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is designed to educate, engage, and support future leaders in Maternal and Child Health (MCH).

DMCHWD accepts applications from highly motivated graduate students in good standing at schools of public health or other health-related training programs in the United States.

DMCHWD Internship Application Package

Statement of Interest – Address the following (500-word max):

What do you hope to gain from this MCH-focused internship experience, and how does this internship align with your career goals?
How have your experiences shaped your definition of diversity? What does it mean for you to have a commitment to diversity? In your opinion, what is the purpose of promoting health equity over health equality?
Have you been involved with any of DMCHWD’s graduate or undergraduate education programs? If so, please describe your involvement.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Unofficial Transcript (most current)

Statement of Availability

Include the months and days of the week available, total hours needed (if submitting as a university requirement), and any concurrent responsibilities.
Include a statement confirming your understanding that you will need to travel to HRSA headquarters or a HRSA regional office 1-2 times at your own expense to complete the onboarding process for your internship.
Example: Available January through May, 3-4 days per week, 300 total hours needed, working as a graduate research assistant 10 hours per week. If selected, I agree to gravel to xxx regional office to complete the onboarding process.

To apply, please email your resume to Kaitlin Bagley. Applications should be received by 11:59 PM on:

January 25, for Summer Internships
DEADLINE EXTENDED – May 16, for fall internships
September 25, for Winter/Spring Internships

Learn more: https://mchb.hrsa.gov/training/tr_internship_hrsa.asp

Job Description: Graduate Field Placement for Research

Supervisors: Brian Pavilonis, PhD and Suzanne McDermott, PhD, Faculty in the Department of Environmental. Occupational, Geospatial Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, CUNY

Research Project: Researchers at the CUNY SPH are investigating in utero exposure to organic and inorganic chemicals in newborn infants. The first stool (meconium) and buccal cells (from mouth cheek) will be collected from mothers and newborns in the postpartum units of Hospitals in Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens (Elmhurst), and Manhattan (Metropolitan). The goal of the project is to investigate the association of chemical exposures during pregnancy with DNA methylation in mothers and newborns.

Graduate Field Work Student Responsibilities:

Obtain required approvals and certifications to conduct field work with human subjects, through CUNY IDEATE, the Institutional Review Board for CUNY
Complete trainings required by NYC Health and Hospitals (NYC H&H) systems to obtain volunteer status as a Graduate Student assistant
Train to administer Oral Informed Consent for mothers with newborns at Hospitals in NYC boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan)
Learn the protocol requirements to obtain consent, collect meconium and buccal samples and participate in the scraping and transfer of samples to local freezers, and in some cases transport to the Medgar Evers College Chemistry Department in Brooklyn, for analysis
Work with the Site Principal Investigators at assigned Hospital, and with their nursing and medical staff, to conduct all steps outlined in the protocol: preparation of kits with diapers and liners, administer verbal informed consent, sample collection, and storage of samples
This can be utilized as a summer or fall fieldwork project with the opportunity for students enrolling in fall fieldwork to begin some of their fieldwork hours in summer if interested. Fluency in other languages (i.e. Spanish, Bengali) preferred, but not required.

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Samantha Fisher at Samantha.fisher20@sphmail.cuny.edu

Job Title: Program Assistant (student with health or social science major is preferred)

Organization: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Work Unit: Viral Hepatitis Program

Hours per week: 19 hours per week (Fall/Spring); up to 34 hours per week (Summer/Winter)

Salary: $ 20.00 per hour

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The New York City Health Department’s Viral Hepatitis Program (VHP) works to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis B and C infection in New York City. The VHP administers a telephone patient navigation program to support New Yorkers to access hepatitis B and C care.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Viral Hepatitis Program is recruiting a motivated intern who will connect people living with or at risk for hepatitis B and/or C to medical care, including hepatitis screening, vaccination, evaluation, and treatment. The intern will connect people to supportive services, such as insurance enrollment, mental health, harm reduction or medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services. The intern will provide health education to patients and communicate with providers to enhance care coordination. Student may use this internship to fulfill their public health or social work program fieldwork requirement. This position qualifies for MPH fieldwork experience with CUNY School of Public Health.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Call patients to assess their needs and barriers to hepatitis B/C care, including making appointments, providing reminders, and confirming hepatitis B/C infection status.

• Provide hepatitis B/C, liver health, and drug use safety education to patients.

• Refer patients to supportive services including health insurance enrollment, mental health, and MAT/harm reduction services.

• Call providers for care coordination and medical records inquiry.

• Document outreach activities/medical records in the NYC Health Department electronic disease surveillance system and maintain patient confidentiality.

• Attend internal staff meetings and external meetings.

• Give case presentation and case discussion in meetings.

• Support project planning, implementation, data collection, evaluation, and data reporting. • Report to supervisor and leadership on progress of projects.

• Complete other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current CUNY student. Master’s or bachelor’s degree in a health-related major is preferred.

• Fluent in Wolof, French, Russian or other foreign languages is preferred.

• Experience in linkage to medical care and health education via telephone is preferred.

• Experience in conducting survey, assessment or questionnaire with patients is preferred.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to develop health care access plan with patients.

• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills; work well with others.

• Comfort with talking about chronic disease, drug use and mental health issues with patients.

• Highly organized with attention to detail. Good oral, written, and documentation skills.

• Strong attention to detail and time management. Able to handle multiple navigation cases.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.

• Strong desire to help others, empathetic, responsible, and self-motivated.

Applicants can email Liz Tang, ltang@health.nyc.gov, Outreach and Navigation Supervisor at the NYCDOHMH Viral Hepatitis Program.

Title: Intern – Hepatitis Program Assistant (Paid Internship)

Viral Hepatitis Program at NYC Health Department

Program Description:

The NYC Health Department’s Viral Hepatitis Program (VHP) in the Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV and STI works to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C in NYC. The Capacity Building unit within VHP administers multiple direct service programs through contracts with substance use treatment programs, community organizations, hospitals, and health centers.

The Clinical Practice Facilitation Program (CPF) provides technical assistance, training and data reports to healthcare facilities in order to build their clinical capacity to screen for, diagnose and treat NYC residents with hepatitis B/C and HIV. CPF engages with clinical and non-clinical staff to participate in hepatitis clinical practice improvement projects and implement system changes.

Intern Responsibilities, assist with:

• Provision of training, technical assistance and data reports to health care facilities

• Recording and tracking CPF activities in Public Health Partners Connect database

• Project planning and implementation with partner facilities

• Analysis, reporting and data visualization of surveillance and program data

• Performing literature reviews and the preparation of peer reviewed publications • Writing of abstracts, creation of posters and slide presentations

• Meeting planning, meeting notes, and follow up items

• Complete other tasks as assigned (e.g. site visits, enhanced surveillance, patient navigation, etc.)

Requirements:

1. Currently matriculated in the CUNY Master’s of Public Health program (MPH)

2. Applicant must be interested in public health program implementation, capacity building and data analysis

3. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills with a sense of customer service

4. Ability to work both independently and cooperatively in a diverse team

5. Highly organized with attention to detail

6. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and databases

Preferred Skills:

1. Knowledge of Hepatitis B/C or HIV (epidemiological and socioeconomic profiles, transmission, prevention, treatment)

2. Interest in working with vulnerable populations

3. Familiarity with clinical settings

4. Ability to handle multiple assignments

We especially encourage LGBTQIA+ people and people of color to apply.

Schedule: 19 hours per week during Fall/Spring Semester and up to 34 hours per week during Winter and Summer breaks

Rate: $20/hour

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration: minimum 6 months

If interested, send cover letter and resume to Nadine Kela-Murphy, MPH at nkelamurphy@health.nyc.gov with subject: Hepatitis Program Assistant.

Position: Fall ’22 Fieldwork: Translating science for public consumption. HIV prevention with men who have sex with men, as well as transgender men and transgender women who have sex with men.

Program description: We are looking for a student interested in helping our team disseminate scientific findings from the Together 5000 cohort study into easy-to-understand digestible articles for dissemination to the public through our website (together5000.org) and other online media platforms. Together 5000 was a US national cohort of over 5000 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender men and transgender women who have sex with me. The goal of the cohort was to identify modifiable risk factors for HIV prevention as well as understand the natural uptake of PrEP in the cohort over the course of the four years they were followed (2017 -2022). We have published over 30 peer reviewed articles on the data collected from the cohort and now want to work to make sure our findings are more accessible to the public, as well as to study participants.

Fieldwork Position Overview: This role will support the Together 5000 study team housed at the CUNY School of Public Health’s Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH) and help ensure that the team meets greater program goals and deliverables in a timely and effective manner. In addition to translating scientific findings for public consumption, other opportunities include assisting with day-to-day communication with participants enrolled in other research studies the team is conducting, reviewing survey measures, and conducting literature reviews. Data from the Together 5000 study can be used for student’s capstone projects.

This is a fieldwork position, totaling 180 hours in Fall 2022. This is an unpaid position, but students will receive the requisite credit toward their degree program requirement.

Fieldwork Responsibilities:

• Summarize key findings from Together 5,000 publications

• Create infographics and other visualizations of research findings from T5K

• Communicate research findings in a manner that is clear and accessible to the public

Qualifications:

• Student at CUNY SPH in good academic standing

• Student has strong written and communications skills

• Student is an independent worker, but can work well in a team environment

To apply, please email your resume to Dr. Matthew Stief matthew.stief@sph.cuny.edu

Position: Fall 2022 Nutrition Fieldwork Position- Part of the Solution (POTS)

About POTS:

Part of the Solution (POTS) is a ‘one-stop shop’ helping low-income individuals and families move from crisis to stability and, ultimately, self-sufficiency. POTS helps more than 30,000 people, including 9,000 children, annually. Currently, services include a Community Dining Room, a Food Pantry, Shower, Mail Facilities, Barbershop, Case Management, Legal Clinic and Stability Services Counseling.

Job Description: Fall 2022 Fieldwork Position – In-Person:

The Culinary Intern position will assist POTS staff in a dual role. On site, an intern will help prepare meals with our chef, washing dishes, maintaining correct food temperatures, chopping vegetables, seasoning meat, and assisting new volunteers. As well, in an office setting at the POTS location, an intern will update and create a recipe book for POTS staff to use for years to come. The intern will also report on nutritional values of each recipe in an effort to provide more education materials about nutrition for our kitchen staff. This position reports to the Volunteer and Partnerships Coordinator, as well as the Associate Director of Food and Dignity.

35% of time focused on Guidebook Development: Create a recipe guidebook following the NYDA’s MyPlate guidelines, focusing on grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and protein. This is an essential part of creating a long-lasting document for all staff and interns to utilize focused on the nutritional value of our food. An intern must be creative and have significant attention to detail.
35% of time focused on Data Gathering: Support the POTS team’s efforts to understand the nature of food waste on site. Interns will also create surveys targeted toward clients to gage knowledge of nutrition, as well as to gather input and data about current meals distributed. Guidebook development and survey distribution will happen in office at least one day a week.
30% of time focused on Culinary focus: POTS prepares over 400 meals a day with a host of other volunteers who are not all trained in culinary. The fieldwork student will be invited to join the POTS team on site at least one full day a week to use knives, cutlery, and cooking machinery to provide and serve healthy, nutritious meals following the NYDA’s MyPlate guidelines. This is a fast-paced environment.

Required Skills

CUNY SPH student in good academic standing
Pursing career in culinary, nutrition, or related field
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Knowledgeable with Microsoft Word and Excel
Willingness to be creative and flexible, compassionate, and patient
Dedication to the mission and values of POTS
Must be available at least two full days a week from 8am to 3:30pm on site
Must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19
Ability to lift 20-30lbs
Ability to stand on your feet for 3 hours

To Apply:

Email resume to Stephanie Caban, Volunteer and Partnerships Coordinator, at scaban@potsbronx.org

Nutrition Concentration Competencies

Interpret how social, behavioral, environmental, political and cultural factors can impact food intake and nutrition in individuals and communities
Communicate literacy-appropriate evidence-based nutrition information using a variety of communication platforms

Position: Spring 2023 Fieldwork Placement for Institute for Translational Epidemiology (ITE) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) – Student Research Volunteer

Program Description: The mission of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine is to develop and facilitate interdisciplinary, collaborative, and translational research integrating population studies, genomic and proteomic research, with the ultimate purpose of spearheading critical changes in clinical practice and improving the treatment of disease and patient quality of life.

Fieldwork Position Overview: This role will support the Director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology and help ensure that the team meets greater program goals and deliverables in a timely and effective manner. The position’s responsibilities encompass various responsibilities pertinent to the research studies conducted at the institute.

This is a fieldwork position, totaling 180 hours from January – May 2023. (~12 hours/week) The position will conclude at the close of the CUNY SPH Spring semester.

Student Research Volunteer Fieldwork Responsibilities:

Contacting research study participants to obtain relevant data
Organizing and maintaining data on various databases
Preparing manuscripts for publications and/or preparing posters for presentations

Qualifications:

Student at CUNY SPH in good academic standing
Student with background in epidemiology and/or statistics

To apply, please email your resume to translational.epi@mountsinai.org

Position: Fall 2022 Fieldwork Placement for Cannabis Equity Project/Marcus Meets Malcolm

Program description: The Cannabis Equity Project is a community initiative supported by Dr. Cheryl Smith. As New York legalizes sale of cannabis, the Cannabis Equity Project is working to ensure that Harlemites, legacy vendors and those impacted by cannabis laws/legislation have the information and facts needed to engage in this industry.

Fieldwork Position Overview: A student will support the Cannabis Equity Project (an initiative derived from Marcus Meets Malcolm and other Harlem-based CBOs) via attendance and presentation at community members and events, creation of engaging digital media and social media content to share information about cannabis, and spearheading data and research-focused projects to understand community preferences and the impact of cannabis policy on Harlem.

This is a fieldwork position, totaling 180 hours from August – December 2022. (~10 hours/week) The position will conclude at the close of the CUNY SPH Fall semester.

Fieldwork Responsibilities:

Communicate and collaborate with community organizations, elected officials, city agencies, SPH faculty, and other relevant stakeholders
Assist with the development and presentation for monthly community meetings
Facilitate monthly community meetings
Create digital materials surrounding health equity & cannabis
Create engaging social media content
Other activities as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications:

Student at CUNY SPH in good academic standing
Strong writing skills and attention to detail
Strong time management skills
Interest (and experience preferred) in community outreach and engagement.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to Dr. Cheryl Smith at smithcas02@aol.com.

Relevant HPAM Concentration Competencies:

Identify and discuss the partnership and collaborative skills needed to develop effective public health programs and policies
Apply strategies for advocating for effective public health policies and programs

MMPCIA/ CUNY School of Public Health Internship Proposal:

POSITION: Fall ’22 Fieldwork Placement

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Mt. Morris Park Community Improvement Association,(MMPCIA), a 41-year-old not-for-profit volunteer community association, was established to bring residents, businesses, and churches together to confront the challenges that were negatively impacting the community’s quality of life. Our efforts also focus on honoring and celebrating the long-standing Harlem Black culture, while at the same time embracing the growth and positive changes.

Through the decades, there have been many gains including better public services, improved housing stock and a reduction in crime. However, during the COVID pandemic many of the remaining underlying issues returned to the surface. Some of those include the limited availability of affordable housing, health and mental health services and the overabundance of drug treatment and homeless shelters within a small geographic area. Last year we witnessed an explosion of illegal drug activities, large numbers of people in distress roaming the streets, and often using the streets to ingest drugs and other inappropriate and dangerous behavior. Crime rates rose, residents, workers and visitors to the community became overwhelmed and fearful. Businesses closed and our community began to feel like a battle zone. MMPCIA works closely with the NYPD, elected and government officials, churches, business, and other community organizations to identify both causes and solutions.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Data Collection, Analysis, and Report:

To better prepare and advocate for changes, communicate with the community, speak effectively with the media, and identify funding needed to improve the quality-of-life, MMPCIA understands we need structured and professionally collected, actionable data. The student will help to develop the research question and to craft data collection methods. As we begin this discussion, we have two broad topics: who lives/works/visits in our catchment area (through gathering existing data) and what are their views and collective feelings about the impact current conditions have on their sense of wellbeing, (health/mental health, safety, happiness, fear, desire to remain in the community). Questions we have, based on stories and experiences shared in our enter action with our members include: What are your biggest concerns? What is good about the community? What keeps you here? To what degree do your concerns impact your sense of wellbeing? How do you see MMPCIA impacting change? How do you define social services? What social services are in the catchment area? What is your perception of the state of drug treatment facilities in Harlem? This is not an exhaustive list, and we look to the intern to help frame questions and identify data collection methods to help us reach our objectives.

The fieldwork student may have the opportunity to help develop a realistic program agenda with short- and long-range goals; determine any MMPCIA structural/organization changes needed to address the current climate and community conditions as we continue to organize and activate community engagement.

This fieldwork opportunity will be largely remote with occasional in-person meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Student at CUNY SPH in good academic standing
Experience in data collection and analysis
Self-motivated and great attention to detail
Comfort working with community

TO APPLY: Please send a resume and cover letter to info@mmpcia.org, include CUNY SPH in subject line.

Submitted by: Madlyn Stokely, President
Mt Morris Park Community Improvement Association (MMPCIA)

POSITION: Fall 2022 Research Fieldwork Opportunity

ORGANIZATION: MONDO (Monitoring Dialysis Outcomes) Initiative at Renal Research Institute

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

With chronic kidney disease being an increasing problem in public health and the outcomes in the dialysis population unfortunately remaining poor, MONDO Initiative’s work aims to contribute to the understanding of disease and outcome dynamics with the potential to change practice patterns internationally on a large scale. Of note – at this point only two international databases of comparable size and diversity exist and MONDO’s database is the only one word-wide allowing for longitudinal analysis covering the dimensions of clinical and demographic parameters, technological data ranging from dialysis machine to body composition assessments using bioimpedance, and outcomes, at this remarkably high granularity with close to 50 million record entries. Fieldwork students will learn a lot about dialysis, the medical background of chronic kidney disease, and what predicts outcomes. Students will further get a first idea of big data analytics and advanced statistical methodologies.

The range of projects currently in the pipeline for which MONDO seeks fieldwork students ranges from studies of pathophysiologic dynamics, body composition studies and outcome studies using our rich dataset. We have a wide range of expertise on our team and are experienced mentors with a great interest to further our projects, but at the same time make this an inspiring educational experience. The support will comprise remote and in-person meetings, teaching of R programming in a Citrix-server based remote virtual environment (comparable with an AWS EC2 VDI) and is planned to result in (at least) one publication which the student will be a coauthor of and receive the deserved credit. Use of the data in the form of a Capstone or master’s essay is encouraged and Dr. Raimann will be acting in a supporting role to this endeavor. Requirements are good knowledge in epidemiology and biostatistics, and good coding skills in either R or Python.

For more information, view Dr. Raimann’s presentation on MONDO: The international MONitoring Dialysis Outcomes (MONDO) database initiative

TO APPLY:

Email Jochen G. Raimann, MD, PhD, MPH, Director, Data Analytics | Renal Research Institute at Jochen.Raimann@RRINY.COM