Guests leaned in with interest as learners shared their stories of real-world experience and impact at last month’s MPH Practicum Showcase.
Hosted by the School of Epidemiology and Public Health (SEPH) at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine on September 21, the annual event brought together members of the Faculty community and public health professionals to learn about and celebrate the students’ hard work over the summer to benefit communities in Ottawa and beyond.
The showcase highlights the practicum, or experiential learning, component of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, giving students the opportunity to present their projects addressing a wide range of pressing public health challenges.
A “win-win-win” setup
The MPH program offers three concentrations and prepares graduates for careers across municipal, provincial and federal public health settings, as well as in governmental and non-governmental organizations in Canada and abroad.
The program’s practicum placements connect students with organizations across Ottawa, in Ontario, throughout Canada and even internationally. Learners gain practical experience, organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and university expertise, and communities reap the rewards—a true “win-win-win.”
More partners, more impact
The program's success depends on employers stepping forward with meaningful practicum opportunities. Each year, organizations partner with learners on projects that address real-world challenges while providing valuable professional experience. Employers are typically recruited between September and December to explore potential placements with SEPH.
Dr. Tara Elton-Marshall, director of the MPH program, is grateful for the strong support the program has received from community partners since 2020. Each opportunity provides meaningful learning experiences while advancing important work in local, provincial, national and international communities.
"Practicums are a cornerstone of public health education, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice. They provide students with invaluable opportunities to apply their knowledge, develop practical skills, and collaborate with public health professionals to address complex population health challenges," she says. "The practicum also supports organizations as they complete this important work while preparing tomorrow’s public health leaders."
Projects from the summer of 2026 reflect a range of governmental, community and research priorities, from immunization efforts and intergenerational health to the economic impacts of substance use in Canada.
Supporting national guidelines
MPH student Claire Wilson, supervised by Dr. Joseline Zafack and Dr. Pamela Doyon-Plourde, completed her practicum at the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). By contributing to evidence reviews, her work supported the development of a robust evidence base that will inform NACI’s recommendations for vaccine policies and programs across Canada.
“Working alongside brilliant multidisciplinary experts was truly inspiring and gave me a first-hand look at how complex scientific evidence is synthesized, critically assessed, and ultimately translated into vaccine recommendations and policies that will protect population health,” Claire explains.
“This experience strengthened my ability to critically appraise evidence and deepened my appreciation for the range of factors, such as burden of disease, equity, feasibility and safety, that experts rigorously assess and translate into health policy.”
“This experience … deepened my appreciation for the range of factors …that experts rigorously assess and translate into health policy.”
Claire Wilson
— Student in the Master of Public Health program, of her practicum
Driving beneficial programming
MPH student Maeve Kinsman, supervised by Kim Hiscott and Dr. Maeghan James, worked at Andrew Fleck Children’s Services and Perley Health. The two organizations have worked together to create an Early Learning and Childcare Center (ELCC) within Perley Health, in which intergenerational programming will take place. The goal of the program is to improve the well-being of children and older adults and actualize meaningful benefits for all involved, including staff, parents and caretakers.
“By contributing to this project, I can help drive future intergenerational initiatives, which in the long term can improve the mental and physical health of children and older adults, subsequently improving their quality of life and reducing health system burden,” says Maeve.
Students often extend their impact beyond the summer months by staying on with their practicum organization part-time until December, including Maeve, who is remaining on her project into the fall. “I am excited to see how it continues to evolve,” she says.
“I can help drive future intergenerational initiatives, which … can improve the mental and physical health of children and older adults.”
Maeve Kinsman
— Student in the Master of Public Health program, of her practicum
Measuring resource needs
MPH student Mkeila Sowa, supervised by Dr. Pamela Kent, completed her practicum at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). She contributed to the lost productivity component of the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (CSUCH) project, which estimates the economic impact of substance use across Canada.
While these figures represent economic costs, they ultimately reflect the impact that substance use can have on people, families, workplaces, and communities across Canada.
“By helping make these impacts visible and measurable, this work can support policymakers and businesses in understanding where resources and interventions are needed to reduce harms and improve health outcomes,” says Mkeila. “As an MPH student, I found it especially meaningful to apply what I had learned about evidence and policy to a national project with the potential to inform real-world decisions.”
“[My] work can support policymakers and businesses in understanding where resources and interventions are needed to… improve health outcomes.”
Mkeila Sowa
— Student in the Master of Public Health program, of her practicum
From the classroom to practical solutions
While the MPH program offers immense value to learners, it can also represent a financial challenge. As a self-funded program, the MPH is not eligible for many traditional student funding sources, and practicum placements do not always provide compensation that offsets program costs. Support from donors helps ensure talented future public health leaders can take full advantage of these transformative learning experiences.
The practicum projects are a good example of how classroom learning can translate into practical solutions for complex public health challenges. They are also just one example of the experiential learning opportunities available to students.
In fact, SEPH enhances students’ professional skills throughout the program by engaging accomplished leaders to share their expertise. This month, first-year SEPH students attended a leadership series featuring prominent speakers, including Dr. Vera Etches, former Ottawa Medical Officer of Health and current CEO of CHEO, and Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, who spoke on Leadership in Times of Crisis. Their participation reflects SEPH's strong connections and ability to engage respected leaders in advancing student learning.
Students agree the practicum experience allows them to gain the confidence to apply the skills learned in the MPH program, and to join in real-world discussions.
Mkeila sums up the consensus. “I’m confident that my perspective can help frame issues and shape policy," she says.
If you are an employer and would like to host a student for a practicum in summer 2027, please submit a completed Placement Request Form or contact [email protected] for more information. Opportunities can be submitted until December 9, 2026, then on an ongoing basis until February 5, 2027.
If you are a University of Ottawa alumnus in a position to offer a placement to an MPH student, this is a great opportunity to pay it forward to your alma mater.
If you would like to support the continued growth and success of the Master of Public Health Program, contributions to the Master of Public Health Program Initiatives Fund are warmly welcomed. Your generosity helps advance student learning and experiential opportunities to strengthen the MPH experience for current and future students.
Photo credits: School of Epidemiology and Public Health