SUBJECT LINE: Harvard MPH Graduate Student Internship Inquiry
Dear Dr./Ms./Mr. [Last Name]:
My name is ___ and I am a graduate student in the Masters in Public Health (MPH) program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; my field of study is _____. I found your contact information through the Office of Career and Professional Development’s online CareerConnect system for employers. OR: I was referred to you by _____ who I met at ___. OR: I found your contact information online/etc. while researching your agency. I hope you don’t mind my reaching out to you directly as I am sure you must be very busy.
One of the requirements for the MPH program is a field experience (“Practicum”) with a host organization, which is an opportunity for students to apply what we are learning in a real world setting and to work alongside experienced professionals such as yourself to contribute to the work of our host agency.
I am interested in doing my practicum with [Name of Organization] because ____. I would be grateful for an opportunity to meet or talk by phone about some potential projects and deliverables that would be valuable for you and your agency, and which would also help me develop my core competencies in public health practice. For example, I am interested in growing my skills in ___ and ___, and I would be interested in hearing more about your agency’s needs to see if there could be a good fit. Attached is my resume; more information about the Practicum is available here.
Would you be available to talk further, or is there someone else at your agency who you think would be a better contact for me? I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration and hope that we will be able to talk soon at your convenience.
Respectfully,
[Include your professional email signature in addition to your full name]