Connecting Public Health Students to Rural and Underserved Areas: Promoting Health Equity Through Field Placement Experiences

Abstract

There is an increasing demand for public health workers due to the unmet needs of the poor and underserved populations. However, through field placement experiences, students can actively engage in their own learning while also addressing critical needs of rural and medically underserved populations. In this mixed-methods evaluation, we explored experiences of emerging public health practitioners who participated in the Region IV Public Health Training Center’s Pathways to Practice Scholars program between 2014 and 2018. Based on student confidence level ratings and descriptions of field placement experiences, scholars participated in meaningful and enriching field placement experiences in rural areas or on behalf of medically underserved populations. Across all eight Council on Linkages Core Competency Domains, students recorded increased pre- to post-confidence scores, and for many, the field placement experience appeared to affirm their interest in addressing the needs of these communities in the future.

Public Health Training Centers: More Relevant Than Ever

“…Currently, PHTCs offer field placement experiences for MPH students to gain practical experience by working with or on behalf of underserved communities or populations (Fifolt et al, 2020). The R-IV PHTC collaborates with state/local public health departments, the Area Health Education Centers program, and other partners to direct students completing field placement experiences to rural and medically underserved areas.…”

“…Likewise, students who work full- or part-time to pay for school forgo anticipated earnings to participate in a requirement for degree completion. Finally, since field placements are designed to serve medically underserved populations and communities, students may have the added burden of finding available housing in rural or geographically remote areas (Fifolt et al, 2020). To minimize these barriers, we suggest that the leadership of PHTCs and local and state health departments work together to ensure the availability of adequate and stable housing beyond the current arrangement which places the onus of responsibility solely on the student.…”