The Health Research Training Program (HRTP) of the New York City Department of Health is pleased to announce its 1999 Summer Session. The program offers practicums in public health research, laboratory work and administration to all college undergraduates and to graduate and professional school students of public health, health education, laboratory sciences, medicine, dentistry, social work, environmental engineering, public administration, accounting, mathematics, computer science, law, nursing, public policy, and the social sciences.

HRTP is the largest program of its kind in the country providing experiential training in public health for students from divergent backgrounds. Since 1961 HRTP has placed more than 3,000 students in research practicums of value to public health and the City of New York. Over the years, the program has demonstrated its capacity for shaping career goals, public health research and individual achievement.

Two essential approaches are employed to introduce students to the field of public health.

• First, the student participates in a project under the direct supervision of experienced public health professionals who are recognized experts and leaders in their fields of public health practice. Student projects are located at the NYC Health Department or at hospitals, medical schools, and other health related institutions. (Selected current HRTP projects are listed on the enclosed flyer.)
• The second approach is through a series of weekly seminars that expose students to the latest issues in public health.

HRTP offers several unique benefits for its students including career counseling, professional advocacy and evaluation, recognition of special achievement and merit, assistance with completion of certain academic and practicum requirements for various degree programs, and file retention and evaluation so the successful internship can be listed on resumes and given as a reference for meeting experience requirements. More recently, policies and procedures have been implemented that greatly facilitate the Department's efforts to retain qualified HRTP students as full-time career professionals.

Student financial support is provided primarily through the federal college work/study program. Work/study students must be interviewed at our office before being processed through the NYC Public Service Corps, the agency that administers payroll for these students. There are also limited award funds available to students who qualify on the basis of merit and need. Information and applications for the 1999 Summer Session of the program are enclosed for use by students at your school who may be interested in participating. New York City area students who enter the program in the summer may continue in the same project during the academic year if they choose to do so.

Application deadline: March

For more information:

Daniel R. Vasgird, Ph.D.
Director, HRTP
The City of New York Department of Health
346 Broadway, Ran 707A, CN 65, 
New York NY 10013
Tel: 212/442-3380 Fax: 212/442-3535