 Clinton Foundation
Comes to Tulane for Interns
Upon leaving office, President Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation continuing the work of his presidency to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. The Clinton Foundation advances its mission by using President Clinton's public and private networks to initiate research, dialogue, and action.
Today, 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS. In the developing world, seven million people need antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, but only two million people are receiving the ARV treatment they need to survive. Since leaving office, President Clinton has been committed to addressing poverty and health inequalities at the global level. He recognized the vital role the Clinton Foundation could play in expanding access to life-saving medicines and in helping developing countries systematize their approach to HIV/AIDS treatment. As a result, he launched the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) in 2002. Today, CHAI is helping dozens of countries and hundreds of thousands of people in the developing world access high-quality, low-cost care and treatment.
The Clinton Foundation Intern Program offers a unique opportunity for growth, learning, and meaningful service. In particular, CHAI works on the ground in 28 countries to support governments in the development of HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs for vulnerable populations, particularly children and those living in hard-to-reach, rural areas. Thus, the majority of internship opportunities are overseas (non-U.S. based). If you are interested in a summer opportunity with CHAI, please submit a cover letter and CV to Career Services kball@tulane.edu. at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine by no later than March 7th. In the cover letter, please specify any specific region of the world or countries in which you have a specific interest, as well as any intermediate to advanced language skills you may have.
Additionally, a representative from the Clinton Foundation will also be on the Tulane Uptown Campus for an Employer Day at the LBC Student Center on Thursday, February 21st from 11am - 2pm. Polish your resume and catch the shuttle if you would like to find out first-hand more about these programs!
For more information about the Clinton Foundation please check out their website: www.clintonfoundation.org
Alumni Profile: Laird Ruth When he graduated with an MPH from Tulane SPH's Department of International Health and Development in 2000, Laird Ruth joined the ranks as a member of the "Tulane Mafia", a name Laird explains that is used to "loosely refer to ourselves, since you see the same Tulane people everywhere - at the CDC, in Kenya, Tanzania, etc".
Laird currently works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Micronutrient Specialist, providing technical assistance/expertise for workshops and consultancies on the global Sprinkles Project and for the monitoring and evaluation of the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI). The Sprinkles Project and the FFI involve social marketing and implementing of micronutrient (iron, iodine, folic acid, vitamin A) programs in developing countries.
For current students, Laird advises "the most important thing you can do is get involved with the different professors... that is the thing that has moved me forward". Laird went on to explain that "one of the greatest things about going to Tulane is you get international experience and you see Tulane graduates everywhere - take advantage of those networks - that is how I have gotten many of my jobs".
Laird's career path has included consulting for various projects (both in research capacities and in monitoring and evaluation) in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Washington, D.C. His diverse list of international health employers have included such agencies as Save the Children, Oxfam, UNICEF, International Rescue Committee, Macro International, International Medical Corp, and Counterpart International.
Students may feel free to email Laird with questions about opportunities at the CDC, what life is like as a Tulane alumnus, or other public health related questions and opportunities they wish to explore. His email is lruth@cdc.gov. |
