As part of the public health program, student Bethany Archer (second from left) worked with the Detroit Health Department, gaining hands-on experience and developing a passion for community health.
Public health students serve the people of Detroit through internship experience
Wayne State University senior Bethany Archer's experiences in and out of the classroom helped define her goals while contributing to her community and launching her career. Archer is double majoring in public health and political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Accelerated Graduate Admissions (AGRADE) program, where she has the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the connections between policy and public health by working in the field. I was looking for.
In line with WSU's College to Career initiative, which provides experiential learning opportunities that allow all students to encounter the world, gain deeper insights and new perspectives, and prepare for a rich career, Archer recently joined the I completed an internship with the Department of Health. (DHD). During her stay, she rotated through the organization's programs and participated in the 2024 Community Health Assessment process. She then modeled that her experience on a practicum project investigating public health on campus and is more focused than ever on her own future in public health.
“These experiences taught me how important it is to listen and empathize,” she said. “I really knew that public health was a good fit for me and that I could make a difference.”
Aiming to graduate this spring, Archer plans to pursue a law degree before pursuing a career in community needs assessment and planning.
“I learned that without laws and policies, there is no public health,” she said. “When we talk about healthcare and community health reform, there are so many legal aspects. The J.D. will further my degree, so I want to help as many people as possible.”
public health practice
Archer learned about the internship through an email from her academic advisor and jumped at the opportunity. At DHD, she was involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of services including environmental health education, infant sleep classes, child health, and reproductive health.
“It was great to experience the wide range of services the department provides to Detroit residents and see how the community engages with these services,” she said. “I thought this is what public health is all about.”
Mr. Archer was particularly enthusiastic about working with DHD's iDecide Detroit program, which aims to provide a network of teen-friendly reproductive health care providers and eliminate stigma around sexual health. She participated in a listening session on the Reproductive Health Act with her teenage girls led by DHD supervisors, members of Congress, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“I was treated as an equal in a room full of leading experts and administrators. I was an enthusiastic participant in the meeting because we all valued their voices the most. '' Archer said. “We came there to learn from people who were living that experience. It really drove home the point of public health.”
expand your experience
Archer's work collecting data for Detroit's 2024 community health assessment process, the first since the pandemic, led her to think deeply about compassion and empathy in the profession. She proposed a similar investigation into campus public health as part of the Public Health 4100/4150 course through a practicum project supervised by Assistant Professor Monique Green and her Jones. She plans to share the results with appropriate campus partners to advocate for the well-being of her colleagues.
“Conducting that survey really forced me to step out of my comfort zone. Asking colleagues to complete a survey, especially one with personal content, is not easy,” she said. Ta. “But it was a great experience and a great reminder that you don't really know what someone is going through until you ask. Listening is an important part of public health.”
pave the way
Jones noted that Archer embodies the professional qualities she emphasizes in the classroom and that her positive experience at DHD has paved the way for other students.
“Bethany is enthusiastic, genuine and full of energy. She's not afraid to ask questions or stand up for herself,” Jones said. “Since then, DHD has come into my class asking for other students. I'm telling you that I don't know if it will turn into an opportunity.”
These practical experiences play an important role in the public health curriculum. The public health curriculum is a rapidly growing field that attracts people who want to work in the medical field and make an impact in their communities.
“We're seeing more students who know they're interested in public health, but it's not necessarily what they want to do with their degree,” Jones said. “These hands-on experiences allow children to discover what they love and make meaningful connections.”
