Community Event Requests
The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living is happy to participate in various school and community events whenever possible.
At past events we have:
- distributed healthy living tips and information,
- led games and activities to promote healthy eating and physical activity, and
- provided public talks or presentations on our various projects and research activities.
To request Center participation at your event, please fill out the Community Event Request Form, and representatives from the Center will be in touch with you soon.
Internship Opportunities at the Center for Healthy Living
Throughout the year, the Center provides various opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to intern (unpaid) with our ongoing projects and initiatives. Past volunteers have assisted with:
- data collection (surveys, height/weight measurement, focus groups or interviews) and analysis (quantitative, qualitative, GIS) for our research projects,
- program implementation (curriculum development and trainings) for our research projects, and
- preparations for Center events (Lectureship in Child Health, Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony).
We can accept a limited number of unpaid interns each semester based on the number of projects that have opportunities available. Current opportunities are listed below. To apply for an internship, contact the project coordinator listed below and send your resume to the contact listed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until available opportunities are filled.
Please note, non-UTHealth School of Public Health or UT Austin students must complete additional paperwork and a background check prior to working, and this could take up to 2 months to complete.
Current Opportunities
2021-2022 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Project
Description:
The Texas SPAN Project is a surveillance system that monitors the nutrition, physical activity, and body size of school children in Texas via self-reported student and parent surveys, and body mass index (BMI). Students in 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 11 grades are asked to participate in the project. Data collected during the Texas SPAN Project is used to report regional and state-wide findings as well as to advise and improve child health programs and policy. Data will be collected during the 2021 – 2022 academic school year across Texas. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in large scale population-based research.
Texas SPAN is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and conducted by research staff at UTHealth, University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin.
Time Period: Fall 2022, Spring 2023
Location: Austin, Amarillo, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler, anywhere in Texas that has participating schools!
Principal Investigator: Dr. Deanna Hoelscher
Contact: Carolyn Smith (Project Coordinator) at Carolyn.L.Smith@uth.tmc.edu or 512.482.6164
Learning Objectives:
- Obtain human subject certification (CITI)
- Certification in survey administration, anthropometry (height and weight measurements)
- Assist with recruitment (relationship building with districts, schools, and project partners)
- How to conduct accurate and robust research
- Data preparation, collection, and quality control
- Data cleaning and analysis
- Assemble reports and presentations
- Spanish speaking skills are helpful but not mandatory
Casual Data Collectors, Practicum, and Internship Opportunities!
Maternal and Child Health Training Program
Please send your resume and cover letter to Stephanie Sieswerda at stephanie.sieswerda@uth.tmc.edu. Please highlight any relevant experience in your resume.
Project Description:
The MCH Training Program provides education, both online and in-person, for MCH professionals. The online training modules make continuing education accessible for MCH professionals who serve diverse MCH populations in isolated, geographic and rural areas. The program collaborates with community organizations to assess the most pertinent training needs of the MCH workforce and then develops specialized, interdisciplinary training modules. The trainings are approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for continuing education units (CEUs) for community health workers (CHWs).
This practicum opportunity involves planning and implementing Community Health Worker Town Halls in Texas via a virtual platform in collaboration with partner CHW organizations across the Southwest United States, working with an advisory committee of CHWs, and planning and distributing a COVID-19 Impact Survey to CHWs. The Town Halls will give CHWs the opportunity to have their voices heard and contribute insight into questions that will be included in a second round of a COVID-19 Impact Survey for Community Health Workers in Texas.
Faculty Advisor Information
Courtney Byrd-Williams, PhD
Courtney.e.byrdwilliams@uth.tmc.edu
Preceptor Information:
Stephanie Sieswerda
stephanie.sieswerda@uth.tmc.edu
Learning Opportunities:
- Work collaboratively with partners across the SW United States and other students to plan Town Hall Logistics
- Draft and submit Survey Materials (recruitment materials, script, etc.) to IRB; Collect data from Town Hall; Synthesize findings; Write summary reports; Create survey content for second round of CHW COVID-19 Impact Survey
Possible Practicum Products or Deliverables:
- IRB protocol that will be submitted for approval;
- Summary report on Town Hall findings;
- Summary report of CHW Advisory Committee meetings;
- Survey content for second round of CHW COVID-19 Impact Survey.
Special Requirements:
- Preferred: Experience in education and/or community engagement is preferred but not necessary;
- Excellent communication skills and detail oriented.
