Region IV Pathways to Practice Scholars Field Placement Program

The Pathways to Practice Scholars program provides an opportunity for current public health students to gain practical experience working with seasoned public health practitioners (mentors) serving or working on behalf of underserved communities or populations. All field placements are intended to enhance a student’s professional skills and knowledge while giving them the opportunity to use skills learned in the classroom. Broad areas that might be addressed by a field placement experience are: epidemiology or biostatistics, health policy, health management, health promotion and education, global health, health communications, environmental health, or refugee health. A limited number of awarded student scholars will be placed in organizations in the Region IV Public Health Training Center’s eight states, which are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. View the Field Placement Program infographic.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Student Scholar Award and Recognition

Students selected to be a Pathways to Practice Scholar will receive an award total of $3500 for the field placement program from the R-IV PHTC Central Office at Emory University.

Student Scholar Support

All student scholars will work directly with a seasoned public health practitioner who will be their mentor. In addition, the Field Placement Manager will provide all scholars with orientation to the field placement program and ongoing support and assistance.

Student Scholar Commitments

In addition to agency deliverables, students will be expected to develop the following items in conjunction with mentors:

Competency-based Work Plan
Field Placement Report*
Photos of Experience

* If a student is using this field placement to complete a practicum or graduation requirement for their own institution, the student should contact Elizabeth Kidwell (elkidwell@emory.edu) at the R-IV PHTC to inquire if those deliverables can be used to meet the Student Scholar commitments. In addition to the requirements of this program, student scholars will be expected to abide by all the policies and procedures of the institution where they are enrolled.

STUDENT SCHOLAR RESOURCES

Downloadable Files

2022 Student Scholar Guidebook

UPCOMING FIELD PLACEMENTS

2025 Field Placement Positions

Field Placement positions for the 2025 Spring Semester are currently being identified and will be posted here once they are finalized. Please check back later for open positions.

NOTE: If you are a local or state health department or other community-based organization that is interested in hosting a student for a Field Placement experience during an upcoming semester, please complete this form or email Liz Kidwell for more information.

Alabama

Aletheia House, Birmingham, AL – This position will be conducted on a hybrid basis. Deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.

Georgia

Georgia Department of Public Health Epidemiology Section, Atlanta, GA – This position will be conducted on a hybrid basis. Deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.

Florida

Florida Department of Health Monroe County, Key West, FL – This position will be conducted on a hybrid basis. Deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.

Kentucky

Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY – This position will be 100% remote with some in-person opportunities. Deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.

Mississippi

Five Horizons Health Services, Starkville, MS – This position has the option to be conducted on a hybrid or remote basis. Deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.