Minority Health Opportunities
If you are a minority student or are interested protecting the health of underrepresented populations or promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities, we have a variety of opportunities that provide hands-on training and a unique experience in many public health fields. These opportunities are highlighted here, but are also organized within the short-term internships and long-term fellowships at cdc.gov/fellowships.
CDC Partnership Institutions
CDC’s Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS) program prepares a diverse body of students to consider public health as a career to ensure a future where the American public benefits from a more diverse and better trained public health workforce. During their internships, students work in a variety of public health settings including community organizations, health departments, university-based programs, and federal agencies. CUPS offers several opportunities that are open undergraduates entering their junior or senior year and recent baccalaureate degree students. CDC partnership institutions include:
- Columbia University Medical Center – Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP)external icon
- Kennedy Krieger Institute – Maternal Child Health Careers / Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP)external icon
- Morehouse College – Project IMHOTEPexternal icon
- Morehouse College – Public Health Leader Fellowship Program (MC PHLFP) Programexternal icon
- University of Michigan School of Public Health – Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP)external icon
- UCLA – Public Health Scholars Training Programexternal icon
- Kennedy Krieger Institute – Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program (Ferguson Fellows)external icon
| Topic | Description | Open To | Length/Salary | Application Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | CDC-Tuskegee University Public Health Ethics Student Internship. Interns work with mentors from across the agency to develop projects applying public health ethics principles. They also gain opportunities to become familiar with the CDC workplace and observe the principles of public health ethics in practice on a daily basis. | Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Tuskegee University. | N/A | Eligible students are selected by the Tuskegee Center for Bioethics |
| Health Education/ Communication |
*Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) Health Equity Internshipexternal icon Offers a unique internship opportunity to prepare students of federally designated minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to apply academic skills and problem-solving to real-life work experiences while the public health programs they serve gain vitality and fresh perspectives from future leaders. |
Undergraduate and graduate students from minority-serving institutions | 12 Weeks, paid | Various months For more information, contact Karen Probert at internship@asphn.org. |
| General Interest | Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP)external icon The participants explore public health through seminars, workshops, and engagement in a community-based research project. Throughout the program the experience is guided by mentors from public health disciplines. The participants receive leadership training, orientation to the public health disciplines, real world work experience, and a trip to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to meet public health professionals. |
Undergraduates in their sophomore, junior and senior year and recent baccalaureate degree students | 10 Weeks residential summer program, paid | November to January |
| General Interest | *Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program (HNIP)external icon Provides a rewarding and challenging internship by matching majors and career goals. Interns enhance their professional skills through a diverse array of careers in the federal and corporate sectors. |
Enrollment in a degree-seeking program (BA/BS, Masters, JD, MD, or PhD) and recent graduates | 10-15 Weeks, paid | Spring: September to November; Summer: September to March; Fall: January to June |
| Infectious Diseases | James A Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowshipexternal icon Opportunities for students interested in participating in infectious diseases and health disparities research. Ferguson Fellows are encouraged to submit their research to national meetings and for publication. |
Students in doctoral programs in pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dentistry, medicine, and Master of Public Health (target students of underrepresented populations) | 9 Weeks summer, paid | November to January |
| Management and Leadership | *Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP)external icon MCHC/RISE-UP is a national consortium of institutions including the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, University of Southern California, California State University-LA, and University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities. Three tracks are offered: (1) clinical (KKI only), (2) research, and (3) community engagement and advocacy. |
Rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 10 Weeks summer, paid | November to January |
| Minority Health/ Health Equity |
*CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS) Program CDC’s Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS) program prepares a diverse body of students to consider public health as a career to ensure a future where the American public benefits from a more diverse and better trained public health workforce. A core area of study and practice during the internship is related to the health needs of U.S. minority and other populations who often are underserved and underrepresented in the field. During their internships, students work in a variety of public health settings including community organizations, health departments, university-based programs, and federal agencies. |
Rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | Varies per opportunity | Varies per opportunity |
| Public Health Science | *Morehouse College Project IMHOTEP Programexternal icon Throughout the program, interns participate in a wide variety of seminars, workshops, and other educational initiatives and must complete a required number of community service hours. The interns receive training and support in data analysis and other project requirements. At the conclusion of the program, interns deliver an oral presentation, poster, and submit a written manuscript suitable for publication in a scientific journal. |
Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 11 Weeks summer, paid | November to January |
| Public Health Science | *Morehouse College Public Health Leader Fellowship Programexternal icon During this fellowship, undergraduate students learn the principles and practice of public health leadership in preparation for graduate programs in public and biomedical health sciences. |
Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 10 weeks, paid | December to January |
| Research | Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in HIV Prevention for Communities of Color Mission is to recruit, mentor, and train investigators to conduct domestic HIV and AIDS prevention research in communities of color. Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to design, conduct, and evaluate scientifically sound, culturally appropriate, HIV and AIDS prevention research activities in communities of color. |
Doctoral-level researchers, i.e., PhD, ScD, DrPH in behavioral sciences, social sciences, epidemiology, public health, or MD/MPH | 2 Years, paid | September to October |
| General Interest | *Public Health Leadership and Learning Undergraduate Student Success (PLLUSS)external icon PLLUSS Program students will participate in public health research, education on health disparities and urban health issues, professional development, and community health promotion activities. Students will be encouraged to produce peer-reviewed publications and attend a national public health conference. Students will receive mentorship with the goal of successful acceptance and completion of graduate or professional school in the public health area. |
Undergraduate sophomore and junior students minoring or majoring in public health | 10 Weeks, paid | November to January |
| Laboratory | Satcher Health Leadership Institute Health Policy Fellowship Programexternal icon Physicians and postdoctoral professionals gain the specific knowledge, skills, and experiences to prepare them for leadership roles promoting and implementing policies and practices to reduce disparities and advance health equity. |
Prior to the start of the fellowship program, applicants must have received a doctoral degree or medical degree with completed residency training. | 10 months, paid | November to January |
| Public Health Science | *The Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP)external icon Throughout the summer, participants receive leadership training, orientation to the public health disciplines, and real world work experience. At the conclusion of the program, interns deliver an oral presentation and submit a final paper on a public health challenge or intervention. |
Rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 10 Weeks summer, paid | November to January |
| General Interest | Thurgood Marshall College Fund Student Ambassador Programexternal icon Offers strategic relationships in education and research. Currently under reorganization. More details for relaunch are forthcoming. |
Rising junior and senior undergraduate students; graduate students | 10 Weeks | Ongoing |
| Public Health Law | Tribal Public Health Law Internships and Externships Students explore the critical role of public health lawyers and analysts who work to advance the use of laws as a public health tool. |
Current and rising third-year law students | 9-14 Weeks, unpaid | Summer: January 31 Fall: April 30 Spring: October 1 |
*Denotes fellowships offered in partnership with CDC
Page last reviewed: August 18, 2020