TFAH 2026 Spring Public Health Internship

Trust for America’s Health

2026 Spring Internship Application (Hybrid within Washington, DC)

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) is searching for motivated undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent graduates to join our Spring 2026 internship program, running from January 2026 to May 2026.

Located in Washington, DC, TFAH is a non-profit, non-partisan public health policy, research, and advocacy organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority. TFAH envisions a nation that values the health and well-being of all and where prevention and health equity are foundational to policymaking at all levels of society. TFAH’s key focus areas include public health preparedness, obesity, health equity, substance misuse and suicide, public health funding, population health, and healthy aging – all with an emphasis on advancing health equity and addressing the social and economic factors that affect a person’s and community’s health.

During the internship, the selected candidates will have the chance to gain hands-on experience on a variety of public health policy-related issues, enhance their professional skills, and receive mentorship and general professional development opportunities.

If you are passionate about making a positive impact through advocacy, strategic communications, and policy development, we would love to hear from you! This paid summer internship, which runs from January 2026 to May 2026, requires the intern to work 20 to 30 hours per week. TFAH is currently seeking an intern for each of the following opportunities:

• Communications and Policy Research: TFAH’s Communications and Policy Research team engages in strategic communications and outreach activities, and disseminates relevant and timely research, analysis, and evidence of proven practices to inform decision makers and stakeholders to foster policy change. The Communications and Policy Research intern will help with data collection, internet research and literature reviews, researching and drafting communications/marketing documents, and assisting with the planning and promotion of webinars, report releases, and social media campaigns. The intern will also attend briefings, hearings, meetings and participate in other organizational efforts.
• Policy Development: TFAH’s Policy Development team conducts research and assesses the public health landscape to inform advocacy and policy change, identify emerging issues and opportunities for systems change, and host convenings and other public-facing efforts. In addition to these activities, the Policy Development team focuses primarily on two areas: 1) strategies to expand public health practice in healthy aging and 2) analyzing state-level policies that can be adopted and implemented to promote health and reduce costs.  The Policy Development intern will provide support to overall policy development goals and the age-friendly public health project by researching issues pertinent to healthy aging, social drivers of health, and other key topics; contributing to the writing of policy reports and other materials; and helping to plan and execute policy convenings and other meetings. The intern will also attend briefings, hearings, meetings and participate in other organizational efforts.

Note: The intern may provide support to other departments at TFAH as needed.

Requirements

The ideal candidate for this internship should be currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a program in public health, public policy, political science, communications, or a related field. A strong interest in public health and policy, particularly regarding promoting health equity and addressing the social determinants of health within TFAH’s priority areas, is desired. Strong writing and organizational abilities are a must, as well as the ability to work collaboratively as well as independently.

This is a paid internship, offering $20.00 per hour for undergraduate students and $24.00 per hour for graduate students. We have a hybrid work environment. This position is based in Washington, DC and requires two days in the office.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete this application form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For questions, please contact internships@tfah.org.

Trust for America’s Health is an equal opportunity employer. TFAH does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.