New York State Public Health Corps

In the 2021 State of the State, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the establishment of the first and best in the nation New York State Public Health Corps (NYSPHC) that will build public health capacity to support COVID-19 vaccination operations and to increase preparedness for future public health emergencies. The Governor directed the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) to work with community partners to recruit and deploy up to 1,000 fellows to participate in the NYSPHC Program.

NYSPHC Fellows will use their talents and expertise to help advance our State’s public health agenda, while serving their communities.

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program provides full-time, paid positions with placements at the NYSDOH, LHDs or other public health system partners.  Candidates for the NYSPHC Fellowship Program include recent graduates and students advanced in their studies in public health programs, nursing schools and medical schools, retired medical professionals, and laypeople.  Individuals with training in public health, medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacology/pharmacy, allied health, social services, communications and information technology, logistics planning, education, and emergency health programs are encouraged to apply. 

NYSPHC Fellows will be concurrently enrolled in Cornell University’s Public Health Essentials Certificate Program and other professional learning opportunities.
 
NYSPHC Fellows will carry out tasks necessary to meet State and LHDs public health mission and may:

A.  Participate in community outreach, enrollment and engagement activities in order to:

• Build trust and relationships with individuals in the community;
• Enroll patients in programs, including scheduling for vaccination and follow-ups, making referrals to community-based resources and identifying barriers to vaccination as needed;
• Attend community meetings as necessary; and
• Develop and communicate outreach plans and strategies for particular communities with a team of local public health officials, other NYSPHC Fellows and Regional Team Leaders.

B.  Utilize standard data collection tools and interviewing skills as well as observe, measure, record and report data related to a patient’s health including, but not limited to, individual medical, health care and support needs and individualized action plans for COVID-19 vaccination and safety; and/or

C.  Communicate directly with individuals, patients, healthcare providers and colleagues to explain basic COVID-19 information, data and health concepts in ways that are familiar to patients and families while showing respect for individuals, their families, communities and colleagues.

Before beginning, it is recommended that you first take some time to prepare documents and compile information that are addressed in the application. 

Documents that you will need to upload include:

• Resume (naming convention “Resume_ _ ”, e.g., “Resume_JaneDoe_040121”);
• Letter(s) of Recommendation (up to 3 letters can be uploaded; naming convention “Letter_ ”, e.g., for a second letter “Letter_2_JaneDoe” and for a third letter “Letter_3_JaneDoe”); and
• Personal Statement describing why you are interested in serving as a NYSPHC Fellow (naming convention “Statement_ _ ”, e.g., “Statement_JaneDoe_040121”).

Key information that you may need to submit includes:

• NYSED issued license number, if you are a licensed healthcare provider
• Final grade point average (GPA) for the institution from which you attained your highest level of education

There are four sections to the application.  Information to be collected relates to:

A.  Personal Contact Information
B.  Service Placement Location Preference
C.  Education and Affiliation
D.  Expertise and Interest to meet the public health mission and placement community needs specific to activities like:

• Vaccination and Testing Site Clinical, Administrative and Logistics Support
• Epidemiology and Data Support
• Communications Support
• Outreach and Partnership Development

If you are selected to become a NYSPHC Fellow and you possess a degree from an accredited college or university, it may be requested that you submit your transcript for verification and be the subject of a background check.

Apply to the New York State Public Health Corps Fellowship Program.

APPLY

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program placements may be at the New York State Department of Health, Local Health Departments, or other public health system partners. 

In order to support the NYSPHC mission and to enhance the NYSPHC Fellows’ experience, stakeholders in counties’ public health networks, including higher education institutions will be organized in working groups for the purpose of identifying and recruiting mentors, offering professional learning opportunities and sharing best practices from the field of public health.

WHO CAN BECOME A NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS FELLOW?

Recent graduates and students advanced in their studies in: public health, medical, dental, nursing and pharmaceutical programs, allied health, social services, communications, logistics planning, education, public policy/administration, emergency health programs technology, and emergency health programs; retired medical professionals; and laypeople are encouraged to apply.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A FELLOW?

Candidates with varying experience are encouraged to apply.  Depending on experience, fellows will be designated to an appropriate program status tier.  

There are three tiers of NYSPHC Fellows:

Fellows may have a high school diploma with documented experience, however, preferred applicants will have completed a related Associate or Bachelor's Degree –or– be within one semester of completing their degree;

Graduate Fellows must have completed a Master’s degree or have completed their basic coursework and be within one semester of completing their academic program; and 

Senior Fellows must have completed or are within one semester of completing their Doctoral level training.

Graduate and Senior Fellows may be offered an opportunity to extend the initial one-year NYSPHC Fellowship commitment.

DO I HAVE TO BE A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO APPLY?

No. See Answer to Question #1 above. Students, recent graduates and laypeople are encouraged to apply.

IF I AM A RETIREE FROM OUTSIDE THE MEDICAL FIELD, MAY I APPLY?

Yes.  See Answer to Question #1 above. Laypeople are encouraged to apply.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program provides full-time, compensated positions with commitment to at least a one-year term. Full-time employment includes a minimum of 35 hours per week.

Graduate and Senior Fellows may be offered an opportunity to extend the initial one-year NYSPHC Fellowship commitment.

WHERE WOULD I SERVE?

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program is a statewide program with placement opportunities in most counties.

Fellows will be placed at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Local Health Departments or other local public health system partners, at assigned locations, preferably within the community where the fellow resides. 

HOW WILL PLACEMENTS BE DETERMINED?

Fellows will be placed where their individual skills and interests are best suited to meet the needs articulated by placement hosts (e.g., NYSDOH and local health departments), preferably within the community where the fellow resides.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS FELLOWS?

Fellows will support the public health mission of the placement host organization by fulfilling assigned tasks as directed by the onsite placement supervisor.

In addition to the work directed by placement host organizations, fellows’ experience will be enhanced by participating in a NYSPHC Local Public Health Partnership team.  The NYSPHC Local Public Health Partnership team is a peer group of fellows, led by a Local Coordinator and mentor(s) who are identified by the local health department.

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program will work with the Local Coordinator and mentor(s) to help fellows satisfy program responsibilities, including progress reporting and training.

WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING WILL THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS FELLOWS BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE?

Professional learning and development is a critical component of the NYSPHC Fellowship Program. Training will include the following:

• New York State Public Health COVID-19 Readiness Training, (Pre-service)
• New York State Public Health Essentials Certificate Program, (In-Service)
• Additional training as directed by the NYSPHC Program

WHAT TYPES OF TASKS WILL FELLOWS BE EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT?

Examples of the types of tasks that NYSPHC fellows will carry out include: 

• Participate in community outreach, enrollment and engagement activities in order to:
  • Build trust and relationships with individuals in the community;
  • Enroll patients in programs, including scheduling for vaccination and follow-ups, making referrals to community-based resources and identifying barriers to vaccination as needed;
  • Attend community meetings as necessary; and
  • Develop and communicate outreach plans and strategies for particular communities with a team of local public health officials, other NYSPHC fellows and Regional Team Leaders.

• Utilize standard data collection tools and interviewing skills as well as observe, measure, record and report data related to a patient’s health including, but not limited to, individual medical, health care and support needs and individualized action plans for COVID-19 vaccination and safety; and/or

• Communicate directly with individuals, patients, health care providers and colleagues to explain basic COVID-19 information, data and health concepts in ways that are familiar to patients and families while showing respect for individuals, their families, communities and colleagues.

ARE FELLOWS PAID?

NYSPHC Fellows will receive compensation depending upon qualifications and experience (see Question/Answer # 2 above). NYSPHC Fellows who are placed with local health departments will receive compensation that is consistent with local determination. Fellows will be compensated approximately the following: Fellows - $41,000; Graduate Fellows - $54,000; and Senior Fellows: $64,000.

HOW WILL THE NYSPHC PROGRAM COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS TO MEET THE PROGRAM MISSION?

NYSPHC Fellowship Program staff will meet regularly with program stakeholders from across the state including state agencies and local public health networks.

WHEN SHOULD APPLICANTS EXPECT THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS PROGRAM TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THEIR APPLICATIONS?

The NYSPHC Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for fellows. The application review process may take up to 8 weeks.

HOW WILL THE NYSPHC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM PARTNER WITH THE AMERICORPS NEW YORK PROGRAM?

In 2021, fifty AmeriCorps volunteers will be designated as NYSPHC fellows. AmeriCorps/NYSPHC members can help build public health capacity to support COVID-19 vaccination operations, help their community prepare to respond to future public health emergencies, grow their skills, train in the field, and be set on the path to a career in public health.