During Your Field Experience

Tips to have successful field experience:

• The student should be professional in the field experience. For tips on how to be professional you can follow the Scientist Responsible conduct in research.
  
• The student should be punctual, arrive and leave on time, and let the preceptor know if you will be absent.
  
• The student should attend as many, and as varied as possible, managerial meetings involving a variety of people in the organization, such as the medical staff, administrators, health educators, and other professionals. In this way, the student gains a wide perspective about the types of issues, concerns, and processes that occur in the provision of public health.
  
• The student should conduct other smaller functions within the organization that contribute to an understanding of the complexities that the organization faces. Any reasonable activity--in which the student contributes to the organization through assisting other individuals as a learning experience, is appropriate.
  
• The student should undertake any other activities that the preceptor may assign and which has mutual benefit.
  
• The student develops an understanding of the political context within which public health activities are conducted.
  
• The student meets regularly with his or her preceptor.
  
• Due to the wide diversity in the field experience opportunities available to students, it is unwise to delineate further the specific nature of the training. It is imperative, however, that the preceptor and student, with the faculty advisor, agree on the scope of responsibilities and duties that the student will assume at the beginning of the field experience period.

If you have questions or concerns you can:

• Post your question or concern in the message board.
• Review the previous experiences or blogs to get an idea of what to do.
• Ask general questions, seek technical support, or contact your coordinator.

Don't forget to take a lot of pictures, and to share your experience by participating in the blogs.