Practicum Preceptor Training
Practicum Preceptor Training
What is a Practicum?
The Council on Education for Public Health
(CEPH) states:
“A planned, supervised, and evaluated
practice experience is an essential
component of a public health
professional degree program.”
Practicum Preceptor Training
Student Objectives
Over the course of the Practicum, students should:

Develop practical skills

Gain professional experience in
health service and public health settings

Build their professional networks

Connect classroom and “real-world” learning
Practicum Preceptor Training
Together, we will …
• Build the public health workforce
• Prepare students to be more effective when
they enter the workforce
• Address more public health problems
• Contribute to the public health of the DC
region and beyond
Practicum Preceptor Training
Who are the Key People?
Always:
• You!
• The Student
• The departmental
Practicum Director (PD)
• The student’s Academic
Advisor
Also, in SPHHS:
• Practicum Coordinator
(PC)
• Webmaster
• Office of Student
Services and Career
Development
• Office of Student Records
• Associate Deans
Practicum Preceptor Training
SPHHS Practicum Sites
• Have a public health mission (or department/section
with such a mission)
• Address significant public health problems
• Offer students the opportunity to engage with
experienced Site Preceptors
• May be local, state, federal, or international agencies
or organizations
Practicum Preceptor Training
SPHHS Site Preceptors
• Are employees of the Site organization
• Typically have at least 5 years of public health
professional experience
• May have a terminal degree in public health or a
closely related field
• When they do not, more years of experience are
expected
Practicum Preceptor Training
Practicum is required for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Environmental and Occupational Health
Exercise Science
Global Health
Health Policy
Prevention and Community Health
• Community-Oriented Primary Care
• Health Promotion
• Maternal and Child Health
• Public Health Communication and
Marketing
Practicum Preceptor Training
School-wide
Practicum Standards
• Must be conducted in a public health setting
• Under the supervision of an experienced
public health professional
• 120 hours
• All hours must be completed on site
• Conducted for credit/no credit
Practicum Preceptor Training
Program-specific
Requirements
• Vary, but all placements must meet SPHHS minimum
standards
• Planned
• Supervised
• Evaluated
• Are tailored to program-specific competencies
• Posted on the Practicum Website
Practicum Preceptor Training
Project Activities may include
• Data analysis
• Exposure assessment
• Grant application
preparation
• Health education
• Health promotion
• Needs assessment
• Policy analysis
• Program planning
• Program
implementation
• Program evaluation
• Risk assessment
• Study design
• Design of study
instruments
• Surveillance
Practicum Preceptor Training
Preceptor Responsibilities:
Prior to Student Placement
1. Submit Practicum Preceptor/Site
Application, if not done previously
2. Work with Student (if you have one) to
create a brief Project Description
3. Submit Preceptor Project Description
Practicum Preceptor Training
Preceptor Responsibilities:
After the Placement
4. With the student, review and approve the
final Practicum Plan the first day of the
placement
5. Supervise the student’s work, and verify the
student’s weekly contact hours
6. Evaluate and discuss the student’s
professional behavior & performance
7. Provide SPHHS with feedback on the
program and Practicum Website
Practicum Preceptor Training
Orientation
When the student first arrives on site, the
preceptor should brief him/her on the following:
•
•
•
•
Policies
Procedures
Professional expectations, including dress
code
Resources (desk, supplies, parking, etc.)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Can the student use a Job/Internship as
a Practicum?
Yes, but:
1.
The site and preceptor must meet program
qualifications
2.
The site preceptor cannot be the student’s current
supervisor
•
3.
Contact hours must be completed under the supervision
of the student’s approved practicum site preceptor
The content and activities of the practicum must be
distinct from the student’s regular work
Practicum Preceptor Training
Compensation
The practicum may be paid or unpaid
Can take many forms:
• Conference fees
• Local travel
• Parking
• Special equipment
• Stipend
• Tuition relief
http://sphhs.gwumc.edu/academic
s/practicum/
All forms must be completed online
Site Preceptors will have access to only
their student’s information
Practicum Preceptor Training
Tools available on the Website
• Preceptor/Site Application
• Mid-Point Evaluation – review/approval only
• After 60 hours completed on site
• Final Evaluation of Student
• After 120 hours completed
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Preceptor Application (1 of 3)
• All applications must be verified by a PD and a PC
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Preceptor Application (2 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Preceptor Application (3 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Information (1 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Information (2 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Site Information (3 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Project Description (1 of 3)
Once a Preceptor and Site are approved, an email alert will be sent containing a password
to login and submit projects.
This will be available for viewing to all students
Practicum Preceptor Training
Project Description (2 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Project Description (3 of 3)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Final Preceptor Evaluation (1 of 2)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Final Preceptor Evaluation (2 of 2)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Troubleshooting…
• Your first point of contact =
– Track-specific Practicum Director (next slide)
• Contact him/her about issues related to the:
– Practicum experience and program
– Student performance
– Expectations
• Practicum Program questions
– Contact Dr. Pierre Vigilance (pndv@gwu.edu)
• Practicum Website concerns
– Contact the webmaster (sphhsweb@gwu.edu)
Practicum Preceptor Training
Practicum Directors
Dr. Peter LaPuma eohptl@gwumc.edu
Env. & Occ. Health
Epi-Biostats
Dr. Amanda Castel acastel@gwu.edu
Ann Goldman sphasg@gwumc.edu
Exercise Sc.
Alex Dickman alexbld@gwu.edu
Dr. Ashleigh Black ashblack@gwu.edu
Halley Petersen-Jobsis hjobsis@gwu.edu
Global Health
Lara Cartwright-Smith laracs@gwu.edu
Dr. Debora Goldberg dgoetz@gwu.edu
Health Policy
HSML
PCH

Dr. Robert Burke bobburke@gwu.edu

Dr. Tamara Henry thenry@gwu.edu
Karyn Pomerantz kpomeran@gwu.edu

Questions?
Contact Us
Pierre Vigilance, MD, MPH
Associate Dean for Practice & Associate Professor of
Global Health
Email - pndv@gwu.edu
Twitter - @PierreVigilance & @GWPraxis
Assistant – Caroline Hill – cchill@gwu.edu
Webmaster – sphhsweb@gwu.edu
Practicum Website:
http://sphhs.gwumc.edu/academics/practicum/
School of Public Health and Health Services
2175 K Street NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20037