Practicum Preceptor Training

September 2013

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

Practicum Preceptor Training

What is a Practicum?

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

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

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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 …

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

• 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?

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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

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• 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

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• 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:

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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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

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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

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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?

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Yes, but:

1. The site and preceptor must meet program qualifications

2. The site preceptor cannot be the student’s current supervisor

• Contact hours must be completed under the supervision of the student’s approved practicum site preceptor

3. The content and activities of the practicum must be distinct from the student’s regular work

Practicum Preceptor Training

Compensation

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The practicum may be paid or unpaid

Can take many forms:• Conference fees• Local travel• Parking• Special equipment• Stipend• Tuition relief

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

http://sphhs.gwumc.edu/academics/practicum/

All forms must be completed onlineSite Preceptors will have access to only their student’s information

Practicum Preceptor Training

Tools available on the Website

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

• 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)

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• All applications must be verified by a PD and a PC

Practicum Preceptor Training

Site Preceptor Application (2 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Site Preceptor Application (3 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Site Information (1 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Site Information (2 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Site Information (3 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Project Description (1 of 3)

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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)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Project Description (3 of 3)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Final Preceptor Evaluation (1 of 2)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Final Preceptor Evaluation (2 of 2)

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Practicum Preceptor Training

Troubleshooting…

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• 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

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

Env. & Occ. Health

Epi-Biostats

Exercise Sc.

Global Health

Health Policy

HSML

PCH

Dr. Peter LaPuma eohptl@gwumc.edu

Dr. Amanda Castel acastel@gwu.edu

Ann Goldman sphasg@gwumc.edu

Alex Dickman alexbld@gwu.edu

Dr. Ashleigh Black ashblack@gwu.edu

Halley Petersen-Jobsis hjobsis@gwu.edu

Lara Cartwright-Smith laracs@gwu.edu

Dr. Debora Goldberg dgoetz@gwu.edu

Dr. Robert Burke bobburke@gwu.edu

Dr. Tamara Henry thenry@gwu.edu Karyn Pomerantz kpomeran@gwu.edu

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

Questions?

Contact Us

http://sphhs.gwu.edu

Pierre Vigilance, MD, MPHAssociate Dean for Practice & Associate Professor of Global Health Email - pndv@gwu.eduTwitter - @PierreVigilance & @GWPraxis

Assistant – Caroline Hill – cchill@gwu.eduWebmaster – sphhsweb@gwu.edu

Practicum Website: http://sphhs.gwumc.edu/academics/practicum/

School of Public Health and Health Services2175 K Street NWSuite 500Washington, DC 20037