Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow Program

Thanks to the shared vision and efforts of Senator Kemp Hannon (former Chairman of the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Health), Peter Levin (former Dean of the School of Public Health) and the New York State  Department of Health, the Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow (PHLOT) Program was launched in 2006.  The program's primary mission was to revive the field of public health through initiatives geared towards current public health professionals and students at University at Albany's College of Integrated Health Sciences.   

Since its inception, components of the PHLOT Program have proven instrumental in strengthening the public health infrastructure of New York State. Continued support of the PHLOT program by UAlbany SPH Dean Philip C. Nasca, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Senate and the University at Albany ensures that the public health needs of NYS residents are addressed and protected by a highly trained, competent public health workforce. 

Funding for the Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow Program is made possible through the NYS Legislature via an award from the NYS Department of Health.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for a PHLOT Tuition Award, all applicants must:

Be a full-time, professional salaried employee at either a NYS local health department (LHD) or the NYS Department of Health;

Pursue and utilize tuition assistance through their employer/union, if available;

Be enrolled in one of the School of Public Health Programs at University at Albany:

• Certificate in Public Health Fundamentals & Principles
• Certificate in Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Online Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice (Online MPH)
• Non-Degree Study
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Once accepted into a School of Public Health program (see "Eligibility Requirements" above for available programs) all interested PHLOT applicants must submit:

• A Tuition Award Request Form for each semester you enroll in courses;
• Documentation of tuition assistance pursued/used through your employer/union;
• Verification of full-time employment status (e.g., copy of ID, letter from employer)

Timely course registration, documentation submission date and priority order are also considered when determining tuition awards.

Deadline dates for PHLOT Tuition Request Forms are:

Fall Semester: August 1st
Spring semester: January 1st
Summer semester: May 1st

Review the PHLOT Tuition Award Program Resource Guide for more detailed information and commonly asked questions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Susan Bernardi-Bain, Coordinator
School of Public Health, University at Albany
Health Sciences Campus, George Education Center, One University Place, Rm.118
Rensselaer, NY 12144

518-408-2341

The PHLOT program recognizes and supports the added value of practical, real-world public health experience to the academic programs at the University at Albany School of Public Health. The experience gained by internships is immeasurable, providing mutual benefits to students and host organizations alike. In keeping with its central mission, PHLOT supports a limited number of SPH Internship Fellowship awards each semester for practice-based internship placements at local health departments (LHDs) or the New York State Department of Health (DOH), with priority given to support internship placements at LHDs. The SPH Internship Fellowship must be completed for credit as part of the student's academic program in order to be eligible for the fellowship funding. Sponsored by specific state agencies and local health departments, candidates will need to possess the skill set established by the sponsoring agency. The Fellowship is awarded to assist with the cost of tuition, fees and/or travel and living expenses associated with the completion of the internship.
 

Student Eligibility for PHLOT Internship Fellowship awards:

• Satisfactory academic achievement
• Demonstrated interest in public health service at the local or State level
• Registration of the experience for University at Albany academic credit
   

Value of Internship Awards for NYS DOH and Local Health Departments

Internships provide excellent opportunities for LHDs and the NYS DOH to host students who have completed a full year of graduate coursework seeking full-time six to twelve week internship positions.

Students successfully matched with an internship may be eligible to receive an SPH Internship Fellowship Award through PHLOT at no cost to the host organization.

Potential mentors interested in hosting a student intern should contact:

Katrina L. Chamberlain, MS, MPH
Director, Internship and Career Services
University at Albany School of Public Health
518-402-0404

PHLOT is committed to strengthening the public health infrastructure of New York State through academic, practical and leadership training opportunities.

Each year, PHLOT earmarks funding to support partial travel expenses for Delta Omega recipients from Student Poster Day to present on research completed at their internships at the APHA conference. Student Poster Day is an opportunity for SPH students to present on the research they completed during their required MPH internships, many of which are at a local health department or the NYS Department of Health, and are an integral part of the student's academic experience at the School of Public Health.

If funding is not used by Delta Omega recipients, remaining funding will support partial travel expenses for students to attend and/or present on research findings at a local, regional or national Public Health conference or meeting.

Eligible students need to complete a Professional Development Application Form and provide supporting documentation in order to be considered. Please email [email protected] to request these materials. 

PHLOT supports professional and leadership development for all University at Albany School of Public Health students, including Local Health Department and New York State Department of Health staff by providing career related programs, events and activities during the academic year. Speakers and resources are available for students on a wide variety of topics including but not limited to: resume development, interviewing and networking skills, public health leadership, social media and professional etiquette in the workplace. Programs are open to all University at Albany School of Public Health students, faculty and staff to attend.