Student-Led Public Health Exchanges Internships: Ensuring Quality and Capacity
1
International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1144
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Despite increasing recognition of public health competencies, studies show that although many medical schools integrate public health education into their curricula, substantial global variation persists, reflecting ongoing training gaps. The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) has promoted student exchanges for over 70 years and, since 2020, has implemented the Public Health Exchanges (PHEx), offering 59 internships across 16 countries.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive analysis of the 2025–2026 Public Health Exchange internship portfolio (n=59 internship forms) across participating IFMSA’s national member organizations. Internships were thematically categorized using recurring public health domains (health systems; noncommunicable diseases; communicable diseases and vaccination; mental health; environmental and occupational health; primary care/social determinants; maternal, child and preventive health; and global and comparative Public Health).
RESULTS:
The PHEx program comprises 59 internships across 16 countries, with a total annual capacity of 425 students. The most represented domain was Health Systems (13 forms; 22%), covering topics from patient safety to the use of artificial intelligence in health data. Noncommunicable Diseases followed with 11 forms (18.6%), addressing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, glaucoma and cognitive decline. Communicable Diseases and Vaccination accounted for 10 submissions (16.9%). Primary Care, Community and Social Determinants of Health represented 8 internships (13.6%), three based in the Brazilian Primary Health Care System. Global and Comparative Public Health and Mental and Cognitive Health each comprised 5 forms (8.5%), while Environmental and Occupational Health included 4 proposals (6.8%). Maternal, Child and Preventive Health was the least represented domain, with 3 forms (5.1%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The IFMSA Public Health Exchange program demonstrates a structured exchange with experiential public health education, offering exposure to diverse health systems and thematic areas. These findings highlight PHEx as a promising framework for strengthening global public health capacity through internationally coordinated medical education.
Despite increasing recognition of public health competencies, studies show that although many medical schools integrate public health education into their curricula, substantial global variation persists, reflecting ongoing training gaps. The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) has promoted student exchanges for over 70 years and, since 2020, has implemented the Public Health Exchanges (PHEx), offering 59 internships across 16 countries.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive analysis of the 2025–2026 Public Health Exchange internship portfolio (n=59 internship forms) across participating IFMSA’s national member organizations. Internships were thematically categorized using recurring public health domains (health systems; noncommunicable diseases; communicable diseases and vaccination; mental health; environmental and occupational health; primary care/social determinants; maternal, child and preventive health; and global and comparative Public Health).
RESULTS:
The PHEx program comprises 59 internships across 16 countries, with a total annual capacity of 425 students. The most represented domain was Health Systems (13 forms; 22%), covering topics from patient safety to the use of artificial intelligence in health data. Noncommunicable Diseases followed with 11 forms (18.6%), addressing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, glaucoma and cognitive decline. Communicable Diseases and Vaccination accounted for 10 submissions (16.9%). Primary Care, Community and Social Determinants of Health represented 8 internships (13.6%), three based in the Brazilian Primary Health Care System. Global and Comparative Public Health and Mental and Cognitive Health each comprised 5 forms (8.5%), while Environmental and Occupational Health included 4 proposals (6.8%). Maternal, Child and Preventive Health was the least represented domain, with 3 forms (5.1%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The IFMSA Public Health Exchange program demonstrates a structured exchange with experiential public health education, offering exposure to diverse health systems and thematic areas. These findings highlight PHEx as a promising framework for strengthening global public health capacity through internationally coordinated medical education.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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