Public Health Practice Postgraduate Program

Program Purpose

The program is designed to provide a unique learning experience, increase public health evaluation and epidemiology capacity, and contribute to academic public health practice scholarship. Practice Trainees enhance their academic training through application in a practice setting. The program is also a recruitment tool for the SC Department of Health and Environmental that encourages successful trainees to apply for permanent health department positions and stay in South Carolina.

Program Description

Trainee positions become available periodically in response to partner needs and funding availability. Interested persons should inquire with the program administrator to ascertain current or upcoming openings. Most placements are located at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Central Office in Columbia, South Carolina. The Public Health Practice Postgraduate Program is administered through the South Carolina Public Health Consortium (the Consortium) for the Arnold School of Public Health (Arnold School) Office of Public Health Practice (OPHP). Trainees are hired as employees of the University of South Carolina. These temporary (2 year) appointments are eligible for typical USC benefits. The Public Health Practice Postgraduate Program is the only program of its kind in the United States.

The Public Health Practice Postgraduate Program nurtures trainees in the development of academic public health practice while providing services to practice partners. Currently trainees work within the DHEC Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention which affords exposure to issues such as heart disease and stroke disease, obesity, tobacco, diabetes, etc. Upon entering the program, trainees participate in a self-assessment and professional development planning process. The outcome is an individual development plan to guide the trainees as they garner resources and opportunities to enhance their skills and professional identity. The trainees also participate in workshops and seminars offered through partners and receive an annual travel allowance to participate in regional and national conferences and institutes.

For more information contact:
Larisa Bruner, MPH, MPA,
Program Administrator
brunerL@mailbox.sc.edu
(803) 777-3146