INTERNSHIPS & PRACTICUMS

OPHA is proud to host public health students for both internships and practicums! OPHA's staff, McKenzie Cowlbeck MPH, CPH and Tracy Freudenthaler, PhD, MPH MCHES, serve as preceptors for policy and administrative / programmatic projects, respectively. All internship and practicum projects are remote. We highly encourage students interested in completing their internship or practicum with us to learn about OPHA by exploring our website and social media, reviewing our current activities and events, and reading about previous projects below. All interested students except HCOPH students (see OPHTC section below) should contact OPHA's Administrator, Dr. Freudenthaler, at tracy@okpublichealth.org to begin conversations about completing your internship or practicum with us!

Oklahoma Public Health Training Center (OPHTC)

OPHA is proud to be a host site for the University of Oklahoma Health Campus Hudson College of Public Health (HCOPH) through Oklahoma Public Health Training Center (OPHTC). With funding and technical support from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) and the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center (R6SCPHTC), OPHTC facilitates cohorts of stipend interns and practicum students to strengthen the technical, managerial, and leadership competence of Oklahoma's public health workforce and to advance the knowledge and skills of the future state public health workforce. Due to the program's cohort structure, HCOPH students interested in completing their practicum with OPHA must initiate conversations with OPHTC at ophtc@ou.edu before contacting OPHA to apply.

OPHA's Students & Projects

Fall 2026 Policy Practicum – Sandra Franco, MPH, Grand Canyon University

Please stay tuned to learn more about Sandra's practicum supporting OPHA's interim study monitoring and education!

Spring 2026 Policy Intern

Bella Massoumi, JD/MHA, OU Law/OUHC Hudson College of Public Health

Bella Massoumi is a dual degree student at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a Juris Doctor and a Master of Health Administration. She is interested in public health policy and advocacy, particularly how policy decisions influence access to healthcare and health outcomes across Oklahoma communities. Originally from rural Oklahoma, Bella is especially passionate about improving healthcare access for underserved populations and strengthening public health systems across the state. Through her internship with the Oklahoma Public Health Association, she is excited to learn more about how public health organizations advocate for legislation that improves community health and help educate the public about its impact.

Summer 2025 Admin & Programming Intern

Kalyn Smith, MHA, Hudson College of Public Health

Kalyn Smith, Master in Health Administration (MHA) student at the OU Health Campus Hudson College of Public Health, completed her internship with OPHA in summer 2025 with preceptor Dr. Tracy Freudenthaler. Kalyn's project focused on early hearing screenings for school-aged children in Oklahoma. She mapped key agencies and nonprofits advocating for hearing health. She also organized an educational webinar with audiology and speech pathology experts to raise awareness and promote local hearing health resources. Congratulations, Kalyn!