Raquel Sandoval, Boise State University
This content was created by an EHS intern to describe intern experiences. It has not been revised or edited to conform to agency standards. The findings and conclusions are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SUPEH Intern, Summer 2014
I want to begin with stating that the most rewarding aspect of the internship was the open communication and opportunities to network with experts in the environmental health field. The internship was organized in a manner that allowed me to have a one-on-one interaction with CDC leaders, many of whom were open to sitting down and sharing their experiences over a cup of coffee. Not many internships provide the opportunity to be able to sit at a table with Dr. Tom Frieden, the Director of CDC—in the weeks during the anthrax, smallpox, and initial Ebola incidents, no less.
My specific assignment was with Dr. Laura Brown, a Behavioral Scientist in NCEH who works with food safety studies and data analysis of foodborne outbreaks. With Laura’s help, I developed a study that evaluated articles regarding inspections and outbreaks to attempt to answer whether or not inspections prevent outbreaks. My contributions were intended to assist in CDC’s approach to the commitment to the Food Safety Modernization Act introduced by President Obama earlier this year. Dr. Brown expressed that understanding the data provided by case studies of outbreaks and inspections is an essential aspect when determining the allocation of resources in the future.
At the beginning of the summer, I was not sure what to expect. Being at a mecca of knowledge such as this, my biggest goal was to meet professionals and use their advice to develop a post-graduate plan that would enable me to work in global health. By the end of the summer I still did not have a concrete plan—however, the projects that I had the privilege to be a part of allowed me to create a vision of the type of work I want to do in the future.
Sitting in my cubicle the last day, I created the following list of goals: 1) graduate from Boise State and take my GRE, 2) gain more experience (perhaps an internship with the EPA), 3) apply to a graduate program that incorporates Peace Corps work, and 4) work in emergency response (NGO or government sector). These goals are not set in stone; what I have really learned is that there are endless amounts of opportunities in this career, and that it is okay to explore my options.
I may not have figured out exactly where I will end up in environmental health but I am grateful to have had been part of an agency where it was encouraged to learn and grow from an array of experiences and that highly encourages diverse backgrounds. As challenging as it is, I highly recommend more students apply to the program—it has been, by far, the most rewarding experience I have had.