The Public Health Academy (PHA), a student success program jointly administered by the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Health Studies Department and BMCC Learning Academy (BLA), matches student goals with the explosive demand for community and public health professionals in underserved communities throughout New York City.
Supportive Cohort Program
Launched in August 2021 with a cohort of 20 students, the Public Health Academy links students with the fast-growing public health career sector. The Public Health Academy provides community college students opportunities to gain first-hand experience in the field by working with public health professionals to address long-standing health disparities, focusing on social determinants of health, health equity, and community-engaged research and practice. Financial support is provided for Public Health Academy students, helping to ensure that they have the time to pursue this opportunity.
Summer Bridge Program and Weekly Seminars
The program begins with a summer bridge program. During the school year there are weekly seminars on student success, job readiness, leadership, career preparation, research training, and internship placement. Students gain experience in developing a research project and delivering oral presentations. As PHA scholars, Community Health Education and Public Health majors gain valuable health professional skills as well as extensive academic support.
Partnerships with Hunter College and Teachers College at Columbia University
BMCC’s Public Health Academy has created a pipeline to Hunter College and Teachers College at Columbia. PHA Students who meet the minimum requirements to enroll in Hunter are guaranteed admission to pursue their bachelor’s degree in Public Health. Once these students have completed their studies at Hunter, if they meet the requirements for Teachers College at Columbia, they are guaranteed admission to pursue their masters in Health Education.
Internships Provide Real World Experience
Public Health Academy students participate in paid internships. Recent internship locations for BMCC Public Health Academy students include:
- AIR NYC
- Caribbean Equality Project (Advocating for Caribbean LGBTQ+ Voices in NYC)
- Harlem Children’s Zone
- HealthCorps
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
- Lenox Health Greenwich Village/Northwell Heath
- Maimonides Medical Center
- NY Presbyterian
- NYC Dept. of Health
- NYC Health and Hospitals
- NYS Area Health Education Center System
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine
- NYU Langone
- Phoenix House
- Red Hook West Resident Association
- Research to Policy Collaboration
- SportsLab NYC
- John’s Episcopal Hospital/Episcopal Health Services Inc.
- The Alliance for Positive Change
- Youth Empowerment AIA
Apply to the BMCC Public Health Academy
If you are ready to apply and would like an application or more information, email us at publichealthacademy@bmcc.cuny.edu.
Learn more about the BMCC Public Health Academy.
