International Field Experience Feedback

“My IFE at Gorgas Memorial Research Institute in Panama City was very interesting, to say the least. I went on field excursions and ended up working in Immunology on clinical diagnostic tests for many diseases of public health importance in Panama, such as HIV, Herpes Simplex Viruses, Dengue, Leptospira, Hantavirus, Influenza and others”.
MPH Student

Embarking on an international field experience is no ordinary study abroad program; it is an opportunity to grow personally and professionally.  Not only did my internship with the Pan American Health Organization’s Regional Program on Dengue exceed my expectations, but the cultural experience of living in Panama and the confidence I gained from my stay there are invaluable benefits.  Under the guidance of dedicated international experts, I designed a plan for a global data collections system during dengue outbreaks.  Being able to make such a contribution during this experience has expanded my view on what an individual can accomplish in public health.
MPH Student,
Department of Global Health

Domestic Field Experience Feedback

My advice would be to find out every department that makes up the unit and have a list of questions that interest you.  There were ample opportunities to learn.

PHP Student,
Polk County Health Dept.—Environmental Health


We functioned like a group of friends who were running a successful business together.
CFH Student,
Moffitt—Lifetime Cancer Screening and Prevention Center


Another skill that I sharpened during my placement was working with numerous people from diverse backgrounds.  This is something that, in my opinion, cannot be taught in a classroom.  Working with a large group of people forces a person to be highly culturally competent and aware of how culture directly affects overall health and wellness.  It is also critical that Prevention and Education measures be accurate, unbiased, and specific to transcend cultural boundaries in the attempt to promote optimal health.
GH Student,
Stetson University—Counseling Center


It is hard to single out a ‘most important thing’ that I learned, but I must say, learning about myself has made me more confident in my career path.
GH Student,
Stetson University—Counseling Center


I did gain an appreciation for the kind of work that this group is expected to provide with limited budget and resources and lack of real legislative support within a politically twisted area of responsibility.
PHP Student,
FL Dept. of Health--Division of Environmental Health


Another important aspect I gained was the ability to work within the deadlines, guidelines and procedures of a government grant.  The government provided funding for the project and had a specific set of goals that needed to be met.  I now understand that it is important to meet the expectations of the government and what they want to get out of the project, even when I may not have always agreed with what they wanted to do.  As a future public health professional I plan on doing considerable research, a lot of which will probably need to be funded by government grants.  This has given me a lot of knowledge and the ability to work within their requirements.
EOH Student,
VA Patient Safety Center


I am glad to have completed this work and feel that it was well worth every minute!
EPI,
Moffitt—Cancer Prevention and Control


This position has been a wonderful experience for me. I have not only developed valuable academic and professional skills, but I have had the opportunity to be guided by numerous talented health professionals. I would recommend this placement for any student who is interested in gaining practical experience in fields of public health and medicine.
GH/EPI Student,
USF College of Medicine—Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine


Whether this course is 1 or 3 credit, the experience is certainly worth it. It gives the opportunity to apply theory to practice. In addition, it calls for the application of knowledge gained, skills and the other attributes that were attained. In other words, without the meaningful theories that were taught and the relevant experiences that were shared during the course work, we would not be able to carry out a successful Field Experience.
PHP Student,
Western Regional Hospital—Belmopan, Belize


My field experience was a crucial part of my education at the College of Public Health, and now that I have completed it, I understand the value it has towards fulfilling the College’s curriculum.
Safety Student,
Center for Occupational and Environmental Risk Analysis and Management


This FE is definitely a boost to my resume. Before this FE, I would hesitate to apply for a position because I felt that I do not have any experience. This FE certainly changes that perception.
BIO Student,
Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies


…My overall experience with this field placement has been excellent. I learned a lot of new techniques in access database constructions. I am getting proficient in SAS in terms of data management and running descriptive statistics.
BIO Student,
Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies


 Because of this experience, at a recent job interview, I was able to demonstrate my experience in providing technical assistance to HIV youth populations, and was knowledgeable on issues that are ongoing with youth at high risk and those infected with the disease
GH Student,
Connect to Protect ® Tampa Bay—USF Pediatrics Infectious Diseases


 A final thought and suggestion for future students with a similar placement would be for them to BE ORGANIZED from the start … I would also encourage any student to be part of a project that could eventually lead to a publication.  I have hopes of being included in a future publication of the meta-analysis and using this experience in my upcoming job search.
EPI,
James A. Haley VA Medical Center


I found it exciting to learn from all the courses and could not wait to use them in practice and I found it even more exciting to go to Washington, DC to put my skills into practice.
HPM Student,
National Association of County and City Health Officials


There is a saying that work, by definition, is never fun.  If work were fun it would not be called work, it would be called play.  Field experience proves to be the exception to this saying.  I put in well over 45 hours for a one credit Field Experience course.  Why?  Because when what you are doing is fun, interesting, and enjoyable, it is not work.  Field experience has allowed for me to earn course credit by following my passion of helping to educate people on how to eat healthy and decrease chronic disease…
PHP Student,
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center
USF Health · 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56 · Tampa, FL 33612