CAREER PATHWAYS
Milwaukee Serves as Pilot for Internship Program Participation at Annual Conference
By Rudolph Nowak , senior specialist , Marketing and Communications
Internship program participants Darrel Gibson , Allysea Smith , Gianna Serpe , Lucy Wellso , Tomi Ekibolaji and Delanie Prince pose in front of the Career Pathways ’ booth at APHL 2024 in Milwaukee . Photo : Michelle Foreman
During APHL 2024 in Milwaukee , many conference attendees did not realize they were taking part in a pilot program .
Six college students who were active interns in the Public Health Laboratory Internship Program : an APHL-CDC Initiative were lucky enough to be chosen as the first internship attendees to an APHL Annual Conference . Two interns also had the opportunity to present their project posters during the conference .
I Spy With My Little Eye …
Interns Gianna Serpe , Delanie Prince and Allysea Smith from Michigan State University ; Tomi Ekibolaji from Lamar University in Beaumont , Texas ; Darrell Gibson from Florida International University ; and Lucy Wellso from the University of Wisconsin were in attendance as the conference kicked off May 6 .
The Internship Program began in March 2023 with no plans for intern participation during the annual conference . That all changed when John
Buchweitz , Nutrition & Toxicology Section chief at Michigan State University ’ s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory , reached out to Mariane Wolfe , manager of APHL ’ s Internship Program and asked , “ Is this something that APHL would be willing to fund ?” Since his interns would be submitting project posters , Buchweitz wanted to know if there was any financial support available for his students .
Wolfe said she would consult with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) about supporting intern participation at the annual conference and get back with him .
“ Sure enough , about a week later , she said ‘ yes , APHL would be willing to fund the trip ,’” Buchweitz said .
In a short period of time , intern participation became a reality .
First Things First
There are always going to be “ firsts ” in the laboratory science community . So when the Internship Team sent invitations to mentors of qualified students regarding a first initiative for the annual conference , there was considerable interest . Mentors were asked to fill out a questionnaire that included a recommendation and justification for their intern to attend . The internship team received 10 applications back , and selected six to attend the conference .
APHL ’ s Internship team Cherie Estrada , Chyna LaPorte , and Janine Nowak conducted several orientation sessions to prepare the chosen interns prior to their arrival , ranging from booking flights and crafting an elevator speech , to appropriate dress and how to navigate the workshops .
Gibson , an intern at the Florida Department of Health in Tampa , FL experienced several firsts when he was selected for the trip .
“ This was my first time flying and it was my first time being at a national conference . So , I was really excited ,” Gibson said . He was also able to learn about the other interns ’ jobs at their host laboratories .
4 LAB MATTERS Fall 2024
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