Category: Practicums/Internships

Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project – Summer Practicum in Nicaragua

January 12th, 2018 in GH Announcements, Practicums/Internships

Program Information

Company Name: Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project, Inc.

Organization Description/Mission Statement: 30th year of partnership between Brookline and Quezalguaque, a rural township in western Nicaragua

Program Description:

Last year students, in concert with the neighboring medical school the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, (UNAN) León, faculty and students, surveyed Quezalgauqiue’s adolescents on their sexual knowledge, attitudes and behavior. They discovered a lack of knowledge around HIV which has a small but rising incidence in Nicaragua. They also worked with the local health center, teachers, parents, and town government & regional Ministry of Health to help build pertinent sexual education in the community. In Summer 2018, we plan to increase education around HIV and reach out to adolecents who missed last year’s program, because they had dropped out of high school. Another group we hope to target are adolescents (boys and girls) who have had a child. The group will continue its work with the different community sectors involved in reproductive health education. Two to three US-based public health professionals will accompany the group for the first of the 6 weeks students are in Quezalgauque. In addition to ongoing supervision with the US professionals, the group will work under the direction of UNAN’s Dr. Ugarte, a renowned expert in adolescent health, and alongside medical students from UNAN Leon.

Preferred and/or Required Skills: Good Spanish skills, knowledge of epidemiology and public health campaigns, works well with many people, ability to be flexible, willingness to live and work in a rural environment without many resources

Estimated Start Date: Late May 2018

Estimated End Date: 6 weeks later

Estimated Days/Hours: 6 weeks minimum

Number of Students Requested: 4-6

How to Apply: Email Peter Moyer at petermoyer@comcast.net to set up an interview. Please include a copy of your resume in the email.

Application Deadline: ASAP – Interviews will be conducted in early February

Supervisor Name: Peter Moyer MD and Kea van der Ziel

Supervisor Email Address: petermoyer@comcast.net

Supervisor Phone Number: Peter 617-592-3313; Kea 617-935-2940

Notes/Comments: The final project is not solid, but will be worked out with the Boston team and the Nicaraguan health officials in the spring. Speaking with past participants might be a help to applicant

Initiatives Inc. & Community Health Workers Central – Internship

October 23rd, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Picture12                        Picture13

Internship to support CHW Central 

Initiatives Inc.
264 Beacon Street Boston, MA
www.initiativesinc.com / www.chwcentral.org

Are you interested in Global Health?  Good at research and writing?  Skilled in website design?

If so, Initiatives Inc. is looking for someone like you to help us further develop and promote CHW Central, an online community of practice that hosts 800 resources on research, training materials, practical tools, and up to date guidance to increase the use of best practices to support community health workers and CHW programs.

The world is facing a shortage of an estimated 7.2 million health workers (WHO 2014); Community Health Workers are helping to fill that gap.  CHWs supported the effort to contain Ebola, provide information on nutrition, ensure TB patients take their medications, remind and escort pregnant women to ANC and PNC clinics, treat children under 5 at home and care for families dealing with HIV.    In the US, CHWs help communities address chronic disease, navigate hospital bureaucracy and get services.

 

CHW Central is an online community of practice that provides up-to-date guidance to increase the global exchange of best practices and other information related to CHWs and CHW programs.  Managed by Initiatives Inc., a small women-owned business founded in 1987, and dedicated to improving the health and services provided to communities in the developing world.

 

We seek a motivated intern with an interest in developing skills in research, writing, and design to support Initiatives’ work in disseminating information on CHW issues, policies, and best practices to the global and local community. The intern will be an essential part of content development, promotion and interacting with known CHW experts.

 

Responsibilities:

  • Strong writing and organizational skills;
  • Desire to learn about the work, challenges, and practices of both domestic and international CHWs;
  • Understanding of website design and maintenance;
  • Experience with social media marketing and communication strategies;
  • Ability to monitor trends using Google Analytics or desire to learn;
  • Knowledge of graphic design and video production, along with familiarity with the Drupal platform a plus

Requirements:  CV and Writing Sample


To Apply
: Email your CV, cover letter and writing sample to dbjerregaard@initiativesinc.com

HEAAL Project: A community-based mental health collaboration with an African faith community in Lowell, Massachusetts

April 13th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

HEAAL Project: A community-based mental health collaboration with an African faith community in Lowell, Massachusetts

Anticipated Start Date: Spring/Summer/Fall 2017

Time commitment: 10-20 hours/week, but flexible

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Christina Borba

 

The BMC Department of Psychiatry recently received a second round of funding to continue a community-based mental health initiative entitled, “Health and Mental Health Education and Awareness for Africans in Lowell” or the HEAAL project. The first phase of this project included a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) needs assessment research initiative conducted in collaboration with Christ Jubilee International Ministries, a nondenominational Christian church in Lowell, Massachusetts that serves a largely African immigrant and refugee congregation. The goal of this needs assessment was to better understand the landscape of mental health needs and barriers to care in this community, in order to inform the development of community-specific mental health resources and interventions. The needs assessment has been completed and the data have been analyzed. The current project is to use these data to develop, implement and evaluate community-informed intervention(s) for this community in Lowell. The Practicum student would be involved in the development and implementation of this community-based intervention. The mental health intervention itself is yet to be defined, as researchers in our department are actively collaborating with our partners at the church to identify the most feasible, practical and desirable intervention for this community, based on the findings of the preceding needs assessment. We anticipate that this intervention will be developed over the course of the spring/summer and implemented in the late summer/fall 2017. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via email to Claire Oppenheim, Research Program Manager for Dept. of Psychiatry at Claire.Oppenheim@bmc.org. Please indicate the specific practicum opportunity for which you are applying in your application email.

Gardens for Health International: Multiple positions open

April 13th, 2017 in Jobs, Practicums/Internships

What We Believe

We believe that growing and eating healthy food can – and must – be a part of the long-term solution to malnutrition.

The world is facing an acute food and nutrition crisis. We must meet the world’s food needs with an approach that is environmentally sustainable, recognizes the primacy of nutrition for agriculture and health and strengthens local communities.

Through our work, we are changing the way that malnutrition is treated by moving away from short-term handouts and towards equipping families with the knowledge and resources to grow their own nutritious food and improve their health. We envision a future in which the key to lasting food and nutrient security for vulnerable families lies in their own backyards.

US-Based Positions

US Development and Communications Associate

The Development and Communications Associate will manage our grant writing and reporting process, and will help lead US-based fundraising efforts. This is an extraordinary opportunity to get practical experience in grant writing and fundraising while also working as part of a tight-knit and fast-paced team.

Full Job Description Here.

 

US Operations Associate

The US Operations Associate will be responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of all US operations and logistics and provide support to our US-based team. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with the leadership of an innovative organization and to see first hand how a fast-paced nonprofit office operates.

Full Job Description Here.

 

Rwanda-Based Positions

 

Rwanda positions will either be based out of GHI’s Demonstration and Innovation Farm located in Ndera, Rwanda – about 30 minutes outside of Kigali – or in our staff house located in Kigali city center. Hours will be full-time only due to the nature of the international location.

 

Development Associate

The Development Associate will manage in-country grant writing and reporting processes in Rwanda and will work with our Development and Communications Team to identify strategies for strengthening in-country fundraising efforts. The Development Associate will also support the administration of external partnerships as well as follow-up, report-writing, and capturing lessons learned. This is an extraordinary opportunity to get practical experience in development and partnership coordination while also gaining international experience with an innovative  and rapidly growing nonprofit organization.

Full Job Description Here.

 

Farm Fellow

Gardens for Health is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking recent graduate to join our Agriculture Team in Ndera, Rwanda. Our Farm Fellow will provide thought leadership and day-to-day management support on our five-acre farm in Ndera, Rwanda.

Full Job Description Here.

 

Executive Assistant

The Executive Assistant will work directly with our Senior Leadership Team and will play a lead role in ensuring the smooth functioning of our headquarters in Ndera, Rwanda. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with the leadership of an innovative and fast-paced nonprofit, and to gain valuable experience working on the ground with an international organization.

Full Job Description Here.

Action Against Hunger: Moringa Proposal Development

April 13th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Picture1

Terms of Reference for Student Placement
Moringa Proposal Development

  1. Background

Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia and trails behind on human development indicators (HDI ranking: 138 out of 182 countries). While poverty was reduced significantly, the number of vulnerable people has increased. Most people who escaped poverty did so by a small margin. The loss of only $0,3 per day would cause Cambodia’s poverty rate to double to 40 percent.

Despite economic, social and medical progress, the nutritional situation in Cambodia is alarming and has not improved in the last 10 years. 1 out of 28 children will not reach 5 years of age, and nearly 10% of children are dangerously thin (wasted) and 32% are stunted. Only 5% of these wasted children are treated and 76% of children aged 6 to 23 months do not eat properly in accordance with international feeding practices.  Wasting and stunting can have profound, irreversible and intergenerational consequences. Wasted children are at greater risk of death and severe illness due to common childhood infections. As for the millions of stunted children, not only will they be forever stunted, but they are also more likely to have poorer cognitive and educational outcomes into adolescence[1]_[2], hence less able to contribute to their nation’s growth[3].

Action Against Hunger is looking for alternatives to the traditional approaches of addressing undernutrition by promoting the use of locally low cost available nutrition food in children’s diet. One such alternative is the use of the Moringa Oleifera plant. Moringa Oleifera is a tree commonly found in Cambodia. It grows unusually fast under harsh conditions in the tropic – up to 15 feet from seeds in one year – and on marginal land with a minimum of water. It is proven to have important nutritive value when compared to typical nutritious plant foods. The Moringa plant can be used in several different ways in a number of different forms. For example, its leaves a very nutrient dense and can be eaten fresh or dried into a powder form to be taken as a health supplement. Moringa seeds can also be used to make nutritious tea and ground seeds can be used to even purify water. Moringa can be incorporated into the diet in many forms and is incredibly easy to grow and the leaves can be harvested 8 times per year. Gram for gram, Moringa has 7 times the vitamin C of oranges, 4 times the vitamin A of carrots, 4 times the calcium of milk, 3 times the potassium as bananas and 2 times the protein of yoghurt and high in antioxidants. Not only leaves are valuable. The oil derived from Moringa seeds is starting to be used for cosmetic, cooking, biofuel and machine lubricant. At the same time, the international export market is expanding rapidly creating a positive enabling environment for Cambodian smallholder farmers who would be interesting to be involved in this new promising market to sustain their livelihoods.

Consequently, Action Against Hunger wants to carry out projects to improve the food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable population through the promotion of the production, the processing, the commercialization and the consumption of Moringa, taking in consideration the existing best practices, limitations and innovative solutions. In line with the expected outcome, Action Against Hunger is looking for an intern/ student studying an advanced degree in Agriculture/agronomy,  Nutrition and with professional experience in food security and in proposal development to carry out this assignment.

OBJECTIVE: To develop project documents (summary/ Concept note + full proposal) aiming at improving nutrition and Food Security &Livelihood (FSL) for rural population in the province of Preah Vihear in Cambodia.

  1. Tasks and responsibilities:

The student will work with the existing team in Cambodia (mainly with the Partnership and Fundraising Coordinator, the Field Coordinator and the Project Managers)

The student will be primarily responsible for:

  • Conducting a feasibility study (mapping and scoping exercise) to inform and guide the future project development :
    • Mapping of the use of Moringa
    • Defining key opportunities and challenges in promoting widely the use of Moringa for nutrition and income generation/livelihoods.
    • Ascertain the marketability and socio-cultural implications of Moringa??
    • Formation of farmer associations/ cooperatives or linking new farmers to the existing community organizations.

Feasibility study scope: initial briefings, orientation and desk review, inception report / feasibility study work plan, stakeholder’s consultations and needs assessments, and market assessment

  • Definition of the overarching structure for the FSL and nutrition project based on Moringa
  • Compile and write the project documents that will be submitted to potential donors such as??
  1. Requirements:
  • Ongoing University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in any of the following area is compulsory: Agriculture/agronomy/agroecology, Public Health, Nutrition
  • Knowledge and experience in Feasibility study highly desirable
  • Knowledge and experience in FSL project highly desirable
  • Knowledge and experience in Nutrition project highly desirable
  • Knowledge and experience in Project Cycle Management highly desirable
  • Experience in developing countries highly desirable
  • Experience in proposal writing is an asset
  1. Person Specification
    • Strong networker, with a cultural and political understanding of the South East Asia context
    • Competency in food and nutrition security, agronomy
    • Good analytical, research and negotiation skills.
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
    • Proven ability to plan and deliver work to agreed deadlines.
    • Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.
    • English: advanced level in speaking and writing
  1. Time frame
    • 2-3 months
  2. Budget
  • Transportation with Cambodia during working hours will be covered by Action Against Hunger.
  • Action Against Hunger will provide decent place for working (desk, chair,..) and stationaries.
  • Action Against Hunger will support the visa
  • The students will have to cover his/her food and accommodation
  • The student will need to cover travel from the US to Cambodia (and back), health insurance and repatriation insurance.
  1. Application
  • Interested candidates should send an updated CV and letter of motivation by email indicating in the subject “Cambodia Moringa 2017” to spietzsch@actionagainsthunger.org

[1] Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L,Strupp B. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. Lancet 2007; 369: 60-70
[2]UNICEF (2013) Improving Child Nutrition, UNICEF: New York
[3]Vogl T. 2012. Height, Skills, and Labor Market Outcomes in Mexico. Department of Economic, Princeton University

Action Against Hunger: Water System Proposal Development

April 13th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Picture1

Terms of Reference for Student Placement:
Water System Proposal Development

  1. Background

Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia and trails behind on human development indicators (HDI ranking: 138 out of 182 countries). While poverty was reduced significantly, the number of vulnerable people has increased. Most people who escaped poverty did so by a small margin. The loss of only $0,3 per day would cause Cambodia’s poverty rate to double to 40 percent. Despite economic, social and medical progress, the nutritional situation in Cambodia is alarming and has not improved in the last 10 years. 1 out of 28 children will not reach 5 years of age, and nearly 10% of children are dangerously thin (wasted) and 32% are stunted. Only 5% of these wasted children are treated and 76% of children aged 6 to 23 months do not eat properly in accordance with international feeding practices.  Wasting and stunting can have profound, irreversible and intergenerational consequences. Wasted children are at greater risk of death and severe illness due to common childhood infections. As for the millions of stunted children, not only will they be forever stunted, but they are also more likely to have poorer cognitive and educational outcomes into adolescence[1]_[2], hence less able to contribute to their nation’s growth[3].

Factors and pathways leading to undernutrition are diverse, complex, and most often interconnected. The immediate determinants are related to food and nutrient intake and to health. Low access to quality water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are also major underlying determinants. There is strong scientific evidence that links undernutrition to unsafe or inadequate water and hygiene practice[4]. UNICEF estimates that more than 90 percent of death from diarrhea illness (which is one of the top three killers of children under 5 worldwide[5]) in young children can be attributed to unsafe or inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene practices[6].

Worldwide by the end of 2015, 91% of the population used an improved drinking-water source, and 58% enjoyed the convenience and associated health benefits of a piped water supply on premises[7]. While in Cambodia in 2015, only 76 % of households use an improved drinking-water source, and only 7% enjoyed piped water supply on premises in rural area. Except Laos where the situation is quite similar, this coverage is by far the lowest rate in the East Asia Pacific region, with similar coverage rates to countries like Congo or Rwanda or Yemen. Low access to safe water is still a major characteristic of poverty in Cambodia.

Indeed, the economic progress in Cambodia has not yet had a significant and positive impact on the access to safe drinking water at home. Decades of projects focused on conventional water supply-sides approaches (wells – ponds – rain harvest water, with or without subsidies) have shown their limit with evidence that a significant proportion of wells are either not operating or unproductive or even sometimes not safe. This requires new approaches for the establishment of sustainable water supply infrastructure, use and maintenance system. Various sector stakeholders have been exploring alternative approaches in water supply in rural area with highly encouraging results. Piped water supply on premise is one of these. The increase of income associated with an increase of awareness about the importance of safe water at home have created a positive enabling environment to develop piped water system at village/ commune level. The focus on sustainable structure for managing the services provided and a view of households as consumers rather than beneficiaries is what sets piped water system apart from conventional approaches to WASH service provision generally implemented in rural area in Cambodia.

Consequently, Action Against Hunger plans to develop new projects for rural piped water system, taking in consideration the existing best practices, limitations and innovative solutions. In line with the expected outcome, Action Against Hunger is looking for an intern/ student studying an advanced degree in hydrology and with professional experience in water supply and in proposal development to carry out this assignment.

Objective

To develop project documents (summary/ Concept note + full proposal) aiming at improving access to piped water supply on premises for rural population in the province of Preah Vihear in Cambodia.

  1. Tasks and responsibilities:

The student will work with the existing team in Cambodia (mainly with the Partnership and Fundraising Coordinator, the Field Coordinator and the Project Managers)

The student will be primarily responsible for:

  • Assessment of the water supply situation in Cambodia
    • Collect and analyze of secondary data and information
    • Identification of pre-selected sites
    • Field assessment in the pre-selected sites, collection and analysis of primary data.
  • Definition of the proposed piped water system(s), draft design and estimate sizing and costing (done with the technical team of the Ministry Rural Development who is in charge of the Household Water supply).
  • Calculations of costs for required for capital expenditures, operation & maintenance, using for example the WASHCost approach.
  • Compile and write the project documents that will be submitted to potential donors
  1. Requirements:
  • Ongoing University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in water-related studies is compulsory (hydrology, hydraulics, geophysics, civil engineering, environmental science, etc.)
  • Ability to lead field surveys and technical design for rural water systems with minimum supervision
  • Knowledge and experience in Project Cycle Management highly desirable
  • Knowledge and experience in field assessment highly desirable
  • Experience in developing countries highly desirable
  • Experience in proposal writing is an asset
  1. Person Specification
    • Strong networker, with a cultural and political understanding of the South East Asia context
    • Sound understanding of piped water systems.
    • Good analytical, research and negotiation skills.
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
    • Proven ability to plan and deliver work to agreed deadlines.
    • Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.
    • English: advanced level in speaking and writing. Khmer a plus.
  1. Time frame
  • 2-3 months

    6. Budget

  • Transportation with Cambodia during working hours will be covered by Action Against Hunger.
  • Action Against Hunger will provide decent place for working (desk, chair,..) and stationaries.
  • Action Against Hunger will support the visa
  • The students will have to cover his/her food and accommodation
  • The student will need to cover travel from the US to Cambodia (and back), health insurance and repatriation insurance.

    7. Application

  • Interested candidates should send an updated CV and letter of motivation by email indicating in the subject “Cambodia Water 2017” to spietzsch@actionagainsthunger.org

[1] Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L,Strupp B. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. Lancet 2007; 369: 60-70
[2]UNICEF (2013) Improving Child Nutrition, UNICEF: New York
[3]Vogl T. 2012. Height, Skills, and Labor Market Outcomes in Mexico. Department of Economic, Princeton University
[4]Black, Robert E., Cesar G. Victora, Susan P. Walker, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Parul Christian, Mercedes de Onis, Majid Ezzati, Sally Grantham-McGregor, Joanne Katz, Reynaldo Martorell, and Ricardo Uauy. “Maternal and child under nutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries”. The Lancet 2013; 382 (9890): 427-451. Pruss-Ustun et al. 2008
[5]Liu et al. 2012. Global, Regional, and National Causes of Child Mortality: An Updated Systematic Analysis for 2010 with Time Trends since 2000. The Lancet 379, 2151 – 2161.
[6]UNICEF. 2012. Children and Water: Global Statistics. New York: United Nations Children’s Fund. http://www.unicef. org/wash/index_31600.html
[7] WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) 2015

 

Digital Health Data Visualization intern with Pathfinder

April 11th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Are you someone who enjoys data analysis, dashboard creation and data visualization? Are you interested in learning more about how to leverage technology as a tool to provide support to vulnerable populations, to promote health consciousness and strengthen the quality of health services? Are you excited by the opportunity to work alongside global leaders in sexual and reproductive rights?

 

If so, I would encourage you to apply to the Digital Health Data Visualization intern position posted by Pathfinder International (position details attached). The intern will support the development of data dashboards for digital health programs focused on family planning/contraception and abortion in Mozambique and Tanzania and will work closely with Carey Finchem (Digital Health Coordinator and BUSPH alum) for 10-15 hours/week for 6 weeks. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Carey at cfinchem@pathfinder.org.

 

Although there is no deadline for submissions, those interested in being considered for the position are encouraged to submit their applications soon!

 

Pilot Study of a Culturally-adapted Substance Abuse Screening Tool in Youth in Liberia – Internship

April 7th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Pilot Study of a Culturally-adapted Substance Abuse Screening Tool in Youth in Liberia

Anticipated Start Date: Fall 2017

Time commitment: ~2 months in-country (Liberia). May also require ~5-10 hrs/week for study preparations prior to travel

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Christina Borba and Veronica Faller

 

In the mid-2000s, researchers from BU (who worked at MGH at the time) worked with the government of Liberia and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to create and sign into law the country’s first national mental health policy. In order to inform the development of this policy, researchers conducted a series of qualitative studies to begin understanding the landscape of mental health burden in the country. As part of these needs assessments, researchers found that while substance use and abuse was widespread among adolescents, existing substance use/abuse assessment tools were not culturally appropriate, as there is a spectrum of substance terminologies that are unique to this cultural setting. Researchers recently revised an existing substance use survey that was previously used in Liberia to be more culturally appropriate. The current research project, while early in its development, will be to pilot test this revised substance abuse assessment in in-school adolescents in Monrovia, Liberia. The Practicum student may have the opportunity to travel to Liberia for approximately 1.5-2 months to help conduct this pilot study, including recruitment, data collection and upon return to the U.S., data analysis. Depending on the progress with this project and when the student is able to join the project team, the student may also be involved in obtaining IRB approval and operationalizing the study. We encourage interested students to see external funding, such as from Santander, but there may be funding available for the student’s flight and housing. This practicum opportunity is available starting in late spring 2017 through fall 2017. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via email to Claire Oppenheim, Research Program Manager for Dept. of Psychiatry at Claire.Oppenheim@bmc.org. Please indicate the specific practicum opportunity for which you are applying in your application email.

*Please note that this Practicum opportunity is early in its development and may undergo significant methodological changes over the summer 2017.

LGBT Mental Health in India – Internship opportunity

April 7th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

LGBT Mental Health in India

Anticipated Start Date: Summer/Fall 2017

Time commitment: 10-20 hours/week, but flexible

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Neeral Sheth

 

People who identify as LGBT are at greater risk for many mental health disorders and suicide.  In India, where homosexuality remains illegal, many are forced to keep their identities a secret, making it difficult to collect data regarding suicide risk, risk factors, and protective factors.  However, with increased use of the internet and social networking, many LGBT Indians are anonymously able to explore their identities online. We plan to conduct a qualitative and quantitative study with LGBT Indians, focusing on understanding suicide risk, protective factors and barriers to mental health treatment. We plan to recruit participants via social media and online communities where individuals are able to explore their gender and sexual identities while still remaining anonymous. We plan to use internet-based, qualitative and quantitative surveys to collect descriptive information and screen for depression, suicidality, risk factors, barriers to mental health treatment, etc...

 

This project is early in its conceptualization. As such, the Practicum student’s role may depend upon the project’s progression and when the student is able to join the project team. The student’s anticipated role may range from protocol development and implementation, to active data collection, to data analysis and preparation of findings for publication. While weekly time commitment is flexible, this practicum opportunity will likely require about 10-20 hours per week. This practicum opportunity is available starting in late spring 2017 through the fall semester 2017. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via email to Claire Oppenheim, Research Program Manager for Dept. of Psychiatry at Claire.Oppenheim@bmc.org. Please indicate the specific practicum opportunity for which you are applying in your application email.

Experience of Microaggressions in Communities of Color and its Effect on Mental Health, BMC Dept. of Psychiatry

April 7th, 2017 in Practicums/Internships

Experience of Microaggressions in Communities of Color and its Effect on Mental Health, BMC Dept. of Psychiatry

Anticipated Start Date: Summer/Fall  2017

Time commitment: between 10-20hrs/week, but may be flexible

Faculty Supervisor/s: Dr. Brandon Newsome and Dr. Pedro Fernandez

 

Boston is home to a multicultural population, each of which has created their own thriving and robust communities.  The Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester communities are historically noted to have a majority of individuals who self-identify as black.  It is well documented that African Americans have poorer health outcomes when compared to their white counterparts with regard to both physical and mental health conditions.  However, there is a smaller body of evidence on the effect of microaggressions and racial discrimination on mental health outcomes.  This project is in its first phase where we will be performing a needs assessment was to better understand the landscape of mental health needs and barriers to care in this community.  The goal is the development of community-specific mental health resources and interventions.  The student would assist with conducting qualitative and quantitative interviews and assessments in-person and over the phone. In addition, the student would help with literature reviews, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, manuscript drafting, and IRB submissions. Previous coursework and/or experience with quantitative and qualitative methods preferred. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Claire Oppenheim, Research Program Manager for Dept. of Psychiatry at Claire.Oppenheim@bmc.org.