This summer, Allison Riley, an MPH student in epidemiology, took her classroom knowledge into the field—exploring climate and health concerns across the region as part of her practicum with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The experience not only shaped her understanding of what it’s like to work in a local health department but also laid the groundwork for her master’s essay in the fall.
Riley was one of nine Pitt Public Health who participated in the Pittsburgh Summer Institute (PSI), a long-standing partnership between the school and ACHD. Now in its 14th year, PSI offers a 200-hour practicum that blends the structure of a traditional internship with hands-on workforce development. Students contribute to real-time public health projects and present their work at a final showcase, held this year on Wednesday July 23 at the School of Public Health.
The 2025 cohort represented four academic departments—Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management and Human Genetics— and contributed to eight active projects across ACHD, ranging from HIV/STI prevention to infectious disease surveillance, recovery housing education, environmental justice and more. For many students, PSI is a chance to explore what a career in public health might actually look like.
Lanita Devine, also studying epidemiology, said the experience gave her a chance to further explore her interests in the field while building real-world skills. “I had the amazing opportunity to work alongside an ACHD official and gain valuable experience, all while doing important work that benefitted the community,” she said.
Kara Becker, another participant from the Department of Epidemiology, described the experience as “incredibly insightful and rewarding,” noting that applying what she’d learned in class to a professional public health setting helped her gain valuable experience, all while doing important work that benefitted the community.
The PSI is coordinated by Adrianna Gradisek (MPH, BCHS ’20), who has helped expand the program in recent years. Recent improvements include increased student stipends and a broader range of projects. Gradisek emphasized that the collaboration between the school and ACHD continues to strengthen each year—and that the future of the program is bright.
“It’s inspiring to watch students take on big challenges and come away with a clearer sense of their professional goals,” she said.
In addition to Riley, Devine and Becker, the year’s PSI participants included:
Alana Luppino (MPH, HUGEN ’26)
Sari Goldson (MPH, HUGEN ’26)
Meghan Mannion (MPH, EPI ’26)
Sasha Henderson (MPH, BCHS ’26)
Samantah Nigida (MPH, HPM ’26)
Emily Herrold (MPH, BCHS ’26)
For these students, PSI was more than an internship—it was a meaningful step toward becoming professional ready to meet the challenges of public health head-on.
-Adrianna Gradisek and Clare Collins