Health Policy & Management

The following sections provide guiding questions to help students organize the content of their practicum papers (roughly 8 pages plus exhibits):

Host Organization (1 page maximum)

• Describe organization – legal classification(s): size/scope; core business(s)/activities; markets; customers/funders/users*
• Attach an organization chart; include a summary financial report if relevant
• Where does organization stand in its relevant sector/industry/market/field?
• Resources – what are organization’s principal strengths and weaknesses?
• Strategy – what is the current strategy of the organization?

What Did You Do In Your Practicum? (70%)

• Identify the unit, project, grant, or part of the organization to which you were assigned
• Define your role or position
• To whom did you report?
• What were your major duties or responsibilities?
• Were you assigned to one or more specific projects or tasks? Describe in detail.
• Discuss in detail your major projects and give specific examples of the content of your work and your contribution (research results, management decisions, actions, etc.).
• What were the principal results, outputs, or findings of your project or your position? Provide specific content of decisions, actions, or data.
• Did you encounter impediments in carrying out your responsibilities? Explain.
• To whom were the results of your efforts reported and what use was made of them? Give examples.

Curriculum Connections (15%)

• How, and in what ways did your practicum position/experience relate to your academic program?
• Applicable concepts, theories, research findings
• Provide specific examples of analytical tools and techniques, models, etc. used in your work
• Connections to specific courses
• How did the program and your course work to date prepare you for this experience? In what skills were you deficient?

Personal Development (15%)

• How has your practicum experience affected your professional development?
• How has your experience affected your career choices?
• How has your experience affected your personal development?
• Other information you would like to share

* If your practicum is in a research department or unit or other research site, take “organization” to mean that unit and not the larger parent organization (e.g. the University).