Internship opportunities at SF Public Health

SHARP (Summer HIV/AIDS Research Program) is an innovative 10-week paid summer mentored internship and learning experience designed to inspire students from underrepresented communities to pursue further studies and careers in public health-oriented clinical, socio-behavioral, and community-focused research.

All candidates must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. Students must also be currently enrolled in an accredited institution (such as a university or a community college) as an undergraduate or have graduated within the last 2 years (no earlier than 2021 graduation date). Those already enrolled in a graduate program are not eligible.

Who Should Apply?

Ideal candidates are interested in conducting research that addresses health disparities as part of their career, interested in HIV and populations at risk, and connected to the community they want to conduct research with. Individuals from communities typically underrepresented in the field of research are strongly encouraged to apply.

Number of Interns

6

Duration

10 weeks in summer (usually 1st week of June to second week of July) 

The 2025 program will run from June 9th through August 15th.

How to Apply

1. Applicants will submit their applications on this website with a new Save & Resume function. Interested students will submit a SHARP Statement of Interest form with required materials (see below) by Friday, February 7th , 2024 at 11:59pm for the final application deadline. PLEASE NOTE: After Friday, February 7th at 11:59pm PST we will no longer accept any applications. 
2. SHARP staff (and in some cases college/university staff) will review the application materials submitted.
3. Top candidates will be invited to formally apply for the program by completing an employment application and participating in a brief phone screen.
4. Finalists will be invited to a zoom interview. Interviews are expected to take place in early April.
5. SHARP staff will notify students of acceptance into the program (approximately late April).

Important Dates

Application Released: Early/Mid December

Application Deadline: 1st week of February

Phone Screen: Mid-February

Zoom Interview in March

Selected Early April

Contact Information:

Lorren Dangerfield lorren.dangerfield@sfdph.org

Additional Resources:

For more information, visit the SHARP Internship website: SHARP – Summer HIV/AIDS Research Program

The Population Health Fellowship (PHF) program is a public health career pathways program that provides two years of paid work and on-the-job training experience to early career professionals to launch their career in public health. With the support of an assigned mentor and staff from the Center for Learning and Innovation and Community Health Group, fellows will develop and complete a public health project in addition to receiving foundational public health and professional development training.  

Upon program completion, fellows will have gained the necessary experience to meet the minimum qualifications of the health worker and health program coordinator series. Fellows who complete the data science placement will meet the minimum qualifications for Health Analyst and Epidemiologist.

Number of Interns

15

Duration

2 years

How to Apply

Apply on SmartRecruiters website

Contact Information

Lorren Dangerfield; info.populationhealthfellowship@sfdph.org

Additional Resources

https://www.sf.gov/information/center-learning-and-innovation

Behavioral Health Services offers a culturally diverse network of programs, whose services are provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, therapists, nurses, health workers and peer professionals. This interdisciplinary workforce supports the needs of all SF residents who access our system by providing comprehensive behavioral health services to mentally ill adults and emotionally disturbed children, youth and their families.

Who should apply?

We provide training for masters-level trainees and practicum level psychology students in a doctoral program. Interns must be actively enrolled in a graduate program. The exception to this are those seeking post-doctoral placements and supervision.

How to apply

After ensuring your school has a current MOU (see below) please review the placement opportunities and e-mail the following to the placement coordinator(s):

• cover letter
• resume
• two letters of reference 

Contact Information

Katy Pacino; katy.pacino@sfdph.org

Additional Resources

Please visit Behavioral Health Services Internship page for more information.

The San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) provides primary care services at various locations throughout San Francisco. Integral to primary care are Behavioral Health services provided by the Behavioral Health Clinicians (BHC).

As a BHC Intern, you will serve an essential role on a medical care team. You will be addressing the psychological aspects of various health conditions. Most commonly, the mental health challenges patients bring to primary care include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and substance misuse. Using evidence-based behavioral approaches, you can also help patients experiencing difficulty with insomnia, living with chronic pain, adhering to their medical treatment plan, or wanting to lose weight. You will work collaboratively with physicians, other medical providers, and medical staff to help address the psychological and emotional needs that patients bring to the clinic and to provide high-quality healthcare that improves the overall well-being of every patient we serve.

The BHC Intern will be working in a fast-paced environment, providing brief short-term clinical interventions (1-12 sessions) to clinics serving children, youth, adults, and/or families with mild-moderate symptom impairments. 

Who Should Apply?

Available internships sites vary depending on supervision needs (MSW vs counseling program); we only accept 2nd graduate students 

Duration

September thru April - 24 hrs a week

How to Apply

Please send resume and cover letter to the Intern Coordinator*

Contact Information

Rita Perez; rita.perez@sfdph.org or 628-217-6914

Additional Resources

Additional information on clinics can be found on our website: https://sf.gov/resource/2022/sf-health-network-clinics

ZSFG is unique in its scope and patient population. We are responsible for direct patient care to city and county residents of San Francisco, including the medically indigent and uninsured. The demands of the internship are challenging, and the rewards and experience gained can be invaluable in development as a therapist/student. Critical thinking as well as patient handling skills/techniques are strongly developed and emphasized during the student's tenure at our site. Our patients frequently have unique lifestyles and cultures that require flexibility and imagination in management of their ongoing therapy and selection of home programs. We are a major trauma center with the following wards and services: Trauma, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, HIV/AIDS, Oncology, Medicine, Cardiology, Psychiatry, Forensic, Ob/Gyn, and Pediatrics.

Student/CI ratios can be 1:1, 1:2 or 2:1

Clinical experience can be inpatient (including ED/ICU), outpatient or Skilled Nursing.

Students work the same hours/days as their CIs including weekends.

Who Should Apply?

1st-3rd year DPT and PTA students

How To Apply

Students should apply through their school's DCE assignment

Contact Information

Lolita Moore-Churchill, lolita.churchill@sfdph.org; Aisha Strong, aisha.strong@sfdph.org

Additional Resources

https://zsfglearn.org/student-placements/

Interns carry a caseload of 7-10 residents and provide counseling and discharge planning services as well as completing psychosocial assessments, care plan interventions and progress notes. They will rotate through different units including rehab, chronic care, HIV and dementia care.

Number of Interns

3, 2nd year MSW students preferred but will also take 1st year MSW students with some experience

Duration

Academic year, September to May

How to Apply

Students apply through their schools MSW program

Contact Information

Janet Gillen, janet.gillen@sfdph.org

Under immediate supervision of the MCAH Senior Epidemiologist, this internship offers experience doing a variety of Epidemiology duties (required for the 2802 Epidemiologist I class): data monitoring for child health needs assessment, health screening and referral database design, data collection, analysis, and reporting; public health program planning and evaluation, and dissemination of child health information to community stakeholders.

Who Should Apply?

Students in health-related academic programs

Number of Interns

Varies

Duration

Varies

How to Apply

Email your current resume or CV to mcah.epid.info@sfdph.org.

Please title the email subject line: Internship - term (eg. Internship - Fall 2024)

Name your resume file in this format: FirstName.LastName - term

Contact Information

Jodi Stookey, jodi.stookey@sfdph.org

Additional Resources: 

https://www.sf.gov/resource/2023/maternal-child-and-adolescent-health-data-and-reports