Medical Student Public Health Training Opportunity

The Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) is a marvelous way to introduce medical students to the world of public health in general and occupational health in particular through NIOSH opportunities.

JRCOSTEP is a program involving most of the Public Health Service including the CDC.  The overall program is open to engineers, environmental health specialists, veterinarians, and several other public health-related disciplines students, however, NIOSH is particularly interested in medical students, graduate nursing students and physician assistants, available for internships.  Internships are available throughout the year, including during summer break.  Opportunities exist to assist with health hazard evaluations, to work alongside senior NIOSH scientists conducting epidemiological studies, surveillance and other investigations and to learn first hand what occupational health professionals can do.

Students are commissioned as Junior Assistant Health Service Officers (Ensigns) in the U. S. PHS.   The assignments may last between 31 and 120 days. They are provided with a nice stipend for their efforts and academic credit for some JRCOSTEP experience is also available.  For information regarding the NIOSH program, please contact Rosemary Sokas, MD, MPH at 202-205-8556 or e-mail rrs8@cdc.gov.

Call 1-800-279-1605 or 301-594-2633 to obtain additional information and an application package or to speak with a PHS recruiter.

Additional information can also be found online (or search the CDC web site for JRCOSTEP).

• December 31 is the application deadline for the May 1 - August 31 assignment cycle.
• April 30 is the application deadline for the September 1 - December 31 assignment cycle.
• September 30 is the application deadline for the January 1 - April 30 assignment cycle.