This summer, like several of my fellow MPHers, I am completing my practicum placement at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in Guelph, Ontario. I have to echo what others have said – I cannot believe summer is over halfway through!

The Foodbook Survey was conducted across Canada over a one-year period, with the objective of determining the routine exposures Canadians have to various food, animal, and water sources. My primary task has been to analyze the data related to the water questions from this survey and from this, develop a manuscript highlighting the key trends and findings. It is hoped that this work will inform future risk assessments and burden of illness associating with water exposures. This has been a great project for me to test my epidemiological and statistical analysis skills, as well as my scientific writing skills. I’ve been pleased to find that research is something that I really enjoy, and could see incorporating into a future career. Working with “real world” data has been something I’ve found fascinating, due to the insights gained into human behaviour.

For me, one of the most interesting components of this placement has been learning how the federal government operates and whether this would be a career path I would be interested in pursuing in the future. I’ve found PHAC to be an extremely welcoming and friendly work place, with an active office social committee. Monthly birthday celebrations, potluck lunches, and public service week are all things I have thoroughly enjoyed. Aside from providing great food, these events have also served as great opportunities for me to get to know my (temporary) office mates and their roles. My supervisor has also been very supportive of my learning and development. As such, I’ve had the opportunity to attend training sessions on the topic of whole genome sequencing, a daylong public health and zoonoses symposium, and meetings of different programs within the office. As a student, this opportunity for continual personal development and exposure to new topics is invaluable. I look forward to what the remainder of the summer will bring.