CDC Minority Health Student Programs

Explore student internship, fellowship, and training opportunities through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Minority Health.

CDC Minority Health Student Programs help undergraduate, graduate, and recently graduated students gain hands-on experience in public health, health equity, research, and community health initiatives. Programs are designed to support students interested in addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

One of the flagship opportunities is the CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program, which introduces students to public health careers through internships, mentorship, leadership development, and professional training experiences. Since 2011, the program has supported approximately 1,600 students nationwide.

Program Areas Include:

• Public Health
• Health Equity
• Community Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Environmental Health
• Maternal & Child Health
• Health Disparities Research

Opportunities May Include:

• Paid summer internships
• Research experiences
• Professional development workshops
• Mentorship from public health professionals
• Networking with CDC and university partners

The CDC partners with universities and organizations nationwide, including programs hosted through institutions such as University of Michigan School of Public Health, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Students interested in careers in healthcare, public health, medicine, epidemiology, research, policy, or community health are encouraged to explore these programs early, as many opportunities are highly competitive.

Community discussions from public health students frequently highlight the Lewis Scholars Program as valuable for networking, mentorship, graduate school preparation, and gaining real-world public health experience.