Benefits of Student Teams

Student teams can provide continuous assistance for routine surveillance and response activities. Student teams may also be established for temporary surge capacity to specific events that require a short-term, immediate response. To meet their needs, a health department may choose one or a combination of these approaches.

More Capacity

When health departments are understaffed, routine and response activities are weakened. Student teams improve the timeliness and completeness of surveillance and outbreak response activities.

Less Stress

Health department staff are often overextended and pulled in many directions. Student teams free up time for health department staff to complete other tasks.

Experience

Students have field experience or practicum requirements for their degree programs. Time spent on student teams can be used to meet degree requirements and/or complete a thesis project.

Training

Students need hands-on experience to prepare them for careers in public health. Student teams provide real-world public health training, better preparing students and improving the future public health workforce.