Program Overview

The School of Public Health at the University of Michigan is committed to eliminating racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health (health disparities). Simply stated, health disparities mean that, in the U.S., people of color and the poor experience lower health status than Caucasians and higher-income Americans. These disparities represent inequalities in that people of color and low-income people should be able to enjoy the same health status as whites and more affluent Americans, but they are systematically exposed to conditions and situations that have negative consequences for their health.

As part of this commitment, the School of Public Health offers health management and policy internships and class work in a summer program that addresses these health disparities. The internships, which provide paid placements in hospitals, community health programs, public health departments, and other health services and public health agencies in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Flint, enable students to work in organizations that confront these disparities every day.

The SEP encourages undergraduates to consider health management and policy as an attractive career option through which they can address health disparities by familiarizing them with the field through a structured summer work experience. Each placement is designed to offer a stimulating opportunity for awareness, learning and growth. The ultimate goal is to increase participation of students committed to eliminating health disparities in this important and exciting field.