Skip to main content
AMCA26 Main banner
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

Poster Session

Poster Session

Poster Session

P33 - Establishment of an Internship Program to Strengthen Practical Public Health Training in Integrated Vector Management for University Students in Puerto Rico 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
12:15 PM - 1:45 PM PDT
Location: Hall A
Abstract: To address the gap in applied public health experience related to Integrated Vector Management (IVM), the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit (PRVCU) established an internship program aimed at preparing university students for professional practice while supporting local vector control initiatives. In collaboration with accredited universities, students completed 3–4-month internships (120–180 hours), focused on community engagement, vector surveillance, and preventive health strategies. Each intern received structured mentorship and practical assignments tailored to their academic background and learning objectives. From 2023 to 2025, 31 students from four universities participated in the program, with all reporting high levels of satisfaction. Interns strengthened key competencies, gained hands-on field experience, and demonstrated increased interest in public health careers or graduate studies. In 2024 alone, 18 interns completed 3,317 hours, equivalent to 1.6 full-time employees, highlighting the program’s operational value and cost-effectiveness. Their contributions directly supported ongoing public health interventions while fostering essential IVM knowledge, advocacy, planning, and implementation skills. The PRVCU Internship Program illustrates an effective experiential learning model that integrates technical training, community engagement, and workforce development in vector management. It equips emerging public health professionals with practical skills and social awareness, enhances institutional capacity without additional payroll costs, and provides a scalable, sustainable model for strengthening Puerto Rico’s public health workforce.