November 21, 2025
As part of our efforts to build and nurture the health care workforce of the future, OCHIN partnered with the University of California, Irvine, to host interns through the Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) program. The program offers undergraduate and graduate students hands-on training in health informatics and real-world experience at the intersection of public health and technology, preparing them for meaningful careers in the field.
Supporting learning and community health through the PHIT program
As a trusted knowledge solutions partner for rural and community health organizations, OCHIN has long supported and trained health care professionals. The PHIT program continues this work to strengthen care for communities nationwide.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the PHIT program connects students with organizations like OCHIN for internships that offer practical, on-the-ground experience for the next generation of public health informatics and technology professionals.
In summer 2025, PHIT interns worked closely with OCHIN’s clinical informatics team to:
- Improve electronic health record systems to boost operational efficiency
- Streamline workflows to enhance care delivery and performance tracking
- Conduct analysis that supports better health outcomes for patients
These opportunities gave interns a strong foundation for entering the workforce. At the same time, PHIT interns brought innovation and new perspectives to OCHIN’s vision of advancing good health and well-being for all, helping improve services, expand capabilities and better support the organizations we serve.
Erin Hickman, senior medical informaticist on OCHIN’s clinical informatics team, said, “Our PHIT intern was terrific. Their passion for learning and strong interest in data were clear in every task they took on, and we learned a great deal from them … We sincerely hope their experience at OCHIN was as rewarding as it was for us.”
“I really wanted a program that would supplement all of my career goals. As someone who is early in their career, that means gaining a little experience in each health informatics discipline. I found that OCHIN's workforce development program fit those needs the best,” said Mandy Woo, a PHIT intern at OCHIN.
Meeting today’s public health needs and building a stronger workforce
PHIT is one of just 10 programs of its kind nationwide. It fills a critical gap by training students for careers that combine public health knowledge with technical expertise—skills that are increasingly important as health centers face greater demands and rapidly evolving technologies.
“I was so impressed by the skill and initiative our PHIT intern showed when finding the right measures and in helping interpret the performance of the tools we were evaluating,” said Teresa Schmidt, research investigator on OCHIN’s clinical informatics team. “They quickly tailored their work around our needs as they evolved.”
The benefits of the PHIT program go beyond a single internship. PHIT interns make meaningful contributions now while helping prepare health centers for the future and ensure they have access to a talented workforce with a strong understanding of both technology and health care delivery.
Explore more opportunities with OCHIN+
While the PHIT program is tailored for undergraduate and graduate students, OCHIN also offers additional learning and training opportunities through OCHIN+ for individuals at all stages of their careers, regardless of educational background. These opportunities include training for community health workers, health information management, medical assistants, and medical billing and coding, along with an expanding range of online courses and certifications.
Interested in learning more? Explore OCHIN+ to discover training programs that support career growth and help build healthier communities nationwide.
This project is supported by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 90PH0010/01-04; the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (The PHIT Workforce Development Program) for $535,996. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by ASTP, HHS or the U.S. Government.
