GHFP’s Washington Interns: A New Generation of Global Health Professionals
May 26th was the start date for a new crop of interns bringing their enthusiasm and intelligence to the Global Health (GH) Bureau at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). An orientation, followed by exposure to the larger global health community at the Global Health Council Annual Meeting, was the kickoff for twelve weeks of immersion in USAID. The interns, 16 in all, represent a diverse cross section of students, recent graduates and mid-career changers who sit in the offices of the Assistant Administrator; Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition; HIV/AIDS; and Population and Reproductive Health.
“We are very pleased to have such a diverse and highly motivated group of individuals with us this summer,” said Dr. Steve Owens, Diversity and Internship Manager for the Global Health Fellows Program. “We received an overwhelming response in the form of applications from across the country and we are excited to be helping USAID nurture the next generation of global health professionals.”
Learning about USAID and global health from the inside
The interns will become familiar with the Agency and its workings, be introduced to key office and division contacts, and be involved in substantive activities related to the work of the Office. For example, one intern supports the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Technical Advisor in the Office of HIV/AIDS and assists in the technical support of PEPFAR OVC projects, prepares literature reviews and participates in technical assistance discussions with the OVC technical working group and advisors in the field. Another intern, assigned to the Malaria Team within the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, serves as program assistant for this fifteen country, $1.2 billion dollar initiative. The intern assists in the writing and review of malaria operational plans, participates in PMI country team calls and technical working group meetings and assists in the review of malaria grant proposals. The Community-based Family Planning (CBFP) Intern participates in the review and promotion of on-going community-based programs, prepares advocacy documents and collects information on CBFP programs and initiatives in priority countries. The intern sits in the Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Service Delivery Improvement Division. To learn more about the 2009 interns,
click on their bios.
Professional and career development activities enhance the experience
In addition to their work with the Agency, the summer interns will participate in a range of professional and career development activities that GHFP offers for fellows and GH staff such as workshops on networking, behavioral interviewing and salary negotiations, among others. Intern-specific activities include a mini PHuNdamentals for Success workshop, journal club, resume development and review, and an end-of-internship seminar.
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