Innovative Graduate Level Internship and Practicum | Health Equity in Action

Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) offers a dynamic, hands-on internship experience tailored for graduate students pursuing degrees such as MSW, MPH, MS, MHA, MPP, and JD. This practicum provides meaningful, real-world engagement with transformative initiatives in public and population health. Interns work alongside visionary leaders who are actively reimagining how equitable healthcare is delivered to underserved communities. With a strong emphasis on advancing health equity, the program empowers students to contribute across a diverse range of high-impact focus areas:

  • Nursing

  • Behavioral Health

  • Street Medicine

  • Infectious Disease

  • Marketing and Communications

  • Community Health

  • Sociomedical Sciences

  • Health Policy

  • Epidemiology

  • Global Health

  • Health Law

Locations

  •  Engagement spans multiple U.S. locations.

  • Interns based in Southern California may opt for in-person experiences in South Los Angeles, Riverside or San Bernardino counties. Interns based in New Mexico, may opt for in person experiences in Albuquerque.

  • Opportunities include projects in New Mexico, Southern California, Texas and international initiatives.

Projects

At Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA), interns have the chance to explore a wide range of hands-on opportunities tailored to their passions and career goals. From street medicine and community outreach to health communications, policy research, and data analytics, each project offers meaningful engagement in advancing health equity. Interns gain valuable, real-world experience in public health settings while contributing to innovative, community-driven solutions that make a lasting impact.

  • Carceral Health and Re-Entry Programs: Develop programs to improve health services for incarcerated individuals, emphasizing continuity of care post-release and mental health support.

    School-Based Health Programs: Collaborate with local education systems to integrate health services within schools for the most at risk youth and adolescents, focusing on primary care, behavioral health and sexual health.

  • At Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA), we believe that everyone deserves access to quality medical care—regardless of their circumstances. Through our innovative, community-based model, we deliver free services that include primary care, mental health support, substance use assistance, vaccinations, and routine health screenings. Our care meets people where they are—whether in schools, clinics, community hubs, or on the streets. Guided by a mission to restore health and hope, our work centers on supporting those who have been historically marginalized by traditional healthcare systems by providing:

    • Comprehensive Primary Care

    • Mental Health

    • Healthcare Enrollment Assistance

    • Care Where You Are

    • Public Health Extenders

  • EMR Integration: Support projects to integrate electronic medical records across partner organizations, ensuring seamless data flow for improved patient care.

    Health Information Exchange (HIE) Integration: Assist in establishing data sharing protocols that enhance the quality and timeliness of public health information.

  • SDoH Data Analytics

    Interns working on this project will gain hands-on experience using data to better understand the root causes of health disparities and inform community-centered interventions.

    • Enhanced Care Management (ECM): Contribute to programs that optimize care coordination for high-need patients, leveraging data analytics and community resources for our street medicine programs intended for the unsheltered unhoused. Interns can play a meaningful role in advancing our mission of health equity while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field of public health. Interns can contribute by supporting Enhanced Care Management (ECM) workflows, assisting with outreach coordination, and helping to track and evaluate client outcomes.

    • GIS: Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data supporting public health initiatives. Create maps and data layers that inform outreach strategies, identify service gaps, and support decision-making. Assist in integrating GIS tools with community health assessments and mobile clinic planning for underserved populations.

  • Democratic Republic of Congo project addressing sexual and gender-based violence: Participate in grant research and program planning to support initiatives aimed at addressing and mitigating sexual and gender-based violence in the DRC.

  • This experience will allow students the opportunity to witness first hand the coordination and team work required for a team to deliver comprehensive care in a primary care setting. They will also recognize the importance of these timely interventions to reduce stigma associated with mental health treatment, effectively manage chronic conditions, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs by preventing complications related to untreated mental health issues.

  • Interns have the unique opportunity to contribute to mission-driven projects that improve health outcomes for underserved communities while gaining hands-on experience in innovative public health initiatives.

    • Women’s Health & Title X Programs: Contribute to impactful initiatives that expand access to reproductive and preventive health services for women in underserved communities, gaining hands-on experience in program planning and community engagement.

    • Vaccine Equity Initiatives:Assist with the coordination and logistics of vaccination campaigns, helping to increase vaccine uptake among high-risk and hard-to-reach populations.

    • FQHC Expansion Projects:Support the strategic development of Federally Qualified Health Centers that integrate primary care and behavioral health, while learning about infrastructure planning and patient-centered models of care.

    • 340B Pharmacy Program Support:Conduct research and assist in the implementation of pharmacy access programs that help stretch scarce resources and ensure affordable medications for vulnerable communities.

    • Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Initiatives: Participate in community-based efforts to improve HIV care and prevention, including outreach, education, and the evaluation of service delivery strategies for those living with or at risk for HIV.

    • Health Literacy & Cultural Competency Committee: Work on creating educational materials and community programs designed to improve health literacy and empower individuals to make informed health decisions.

    • Development of Policies & Procedures: Contribute to drafting and refining policies, including New Mexico-specific protocols and emergency preparedness plans.

    • Medico-Legal Policy Protections: Collaborate with legal and public health experts to develop safeguards against policies that may hinder equitable health care, including protections related to ICE, DEI, and transgender rights.

    • Marketing & Communications: Support outreach and communication strategies to increase engagement with community partners and stakeholders.

    • LA Scribing and Nursing/Pharmacy Support: Gain practical experience in clinical documentation and operational support within healthcare settings.

    • HIV Street Medicine Scribing Program: Support HIV-focused street medicine teams by assisting with clinical documentation, patient engagement, and care coordination. Practicum students gain exposure to field-based HIV care, EMR use in mobile settings, and the integration of public health and clinical service delivery for unsheltered populations.

    • Community Health Worker (CHW) Task Force: Collaborate with national CHW leaders to develop strategies for community outreach and health education.

    • Public Health in Medicine Group: Participate in mentorship sessions aimed at bridging clinical practice with public health policy and research. The program offers practicum students pursuing clinical careers the opportunity to explore the integration of public health and clinical care through structured mentorship, case-based presentations, and skill-building in health equity and systems-based practice.

Duties

Interns at WEA support a variety of critical functions, including conducting literature reviews, assisting with grant writing, coordinating public health programs, analyzing population health data, developing education materials, engaging with communities, and contributing to policy and protocol development—all aimed at advancing equitable, evidence-based public health initiatives.

  • Conduct literature reviews and grant research; prepare proposals and RFX applications.

  • Identify funding sources, coordinate public health projects, and manage operational initiatives.

  • Work with data scientists to analyze population health metrics and support community-based research.

  • Develop health education materials and conduct community outreach activities.

  • Assist in crafting policies, procedures, and study protocols to improve public health practices.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates for WEA’s internship program are graduate students with at least two years of post-undergraduate experience, a strong commitment to health equity, and excellent communication and project management skills. Preferred qualifications include proficiency in data tools, creative platforms, and a deep understanding of challenges facing marginalized populations.

    • Current student with 2+ years since undergraduate degree graduation

    • Demonstrated commitment to public and population health equity and addressing SDoH

    • Strong communication and project management skills

    • Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments

    • Familiarity with public health challenges impacting migrant, Indigenous, racial equity, carceral, rural, homeless, and LGBTQ+ populations

    • Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Google Suite and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, SAS, R)

    • Experience in social media, graphic design, coding, or health analytics

Timing & Hours

The WEA internship program offers flexible, rolling start dates with immediate openings available. Hours are adaptable and designed to align with students’ academic schedules, allowing interns to balance coursework while gaining meaningful public health experience. This structure supports a personalized and impactful internship journey for each participant.

  • Rolling

  • Flexible and rolling, designed to accommodate academic schedules

Apply Now

Innovative Public Health Practicum

To apply for WEA’s Innovative Public Health Practicum, submit your resume and a brief statement of interest. Our team will thoughtfully review your credentials to ensure alignment with current projects and opportunities. If there’s a potential fit, we’ll follow up to discuss next steps and explore your placement.

Questions? Please email antonella@wellnessequityalliance.com.