Enhancing student practicum opportunities: the outbreak investigation option.

An outbreak investigation practicum option for graduate students at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine has three goals of education, scientific investigation, and exposure to operations of public health agencies. Over a six-year period, 48 students performed 40 outbreak investigations in collaboration with adjunct faculty based in local public health agencies. An outbreak investigation practicum at Yale University had similar goals, but the rapid-response team approach there generally involved one regular faculty member and a team of graduate students. In either program, the level of faculty involvement necessary for outbreak investigations is sustainable only if the faculty value public health practice as part of the school's mission. Since public health students need to acquire many practical skills, a short outbreak investigation practicum experience should not be viewed in isolation, but rather should be one of a variety of practicum offerings available to students at schools of public health.