An important pilot program is helping Hawaiʻi’s future public health professionals overcome financial barriers to completing required fieldwork. Based at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 , the program provides paid field experiences that are traditionally unpaid despite significant time and workload demands.
Through the , and supported by the (DOH), the project coordinates funding so students can be compensated for required fieldwork that was completed at DOH. The pilot aligns with broader efforts to close this gap and expand equitable access to education and training.
“This has been a team effort with many partners at 东精影业 and DOH and for that we are grateful,” said Becky Rodericks, a faculty member of the Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) and a key collaborator on this project across all pilot years.
Efforts started in summer of 2022 and expanded in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, the pilot supported 10 students completing their (APLE) and .
Students said the funding made it possible to complete their practicums while balancing work and family responsibilities. One student said the support allowed her to finish her practicum without taking several weeks off work. “As a single mother, I don’t have the flexibility to complete my practicum on a full-time basis,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity that this program provided. Truly, it made it possible to get my practicum completed.”
The program also helped offset transportation and parking costs, easing additional financial pressure for students commuting to field sites.
Expanding access to hands-on learning
APLE and master’s-level practicums allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world public health and social work through interdisciplinary projects with community and government partners.
The paid placements allowed students to shift focus away from multiple jobs or other financial obligations and dedicate more time and energy to their practicum projects, strengthening hands-on learning experiences.
“We are honored and grateful to work with our partners at DOH and our fellow Department of Public Health Science and DSW faculty and staff on this important effort,” said Rodericks. “Our long-term and ongoing collaborations within UH and at DOH are vital to our program successes.”