Things are going well at TCC, I have completed a large part of the project given to me and am waiting on feedback from the program’s CEO.  My immediate preceptor is very happy with what I’ve done, and hopefully she and the CEO are thinking along the same lines in terms of what they want.  I continue to see first hand some of the difficulties and successes that can be encountered in public health.  My preceptor (the director of the Health Education Office of TCC)  is desperately trying to get some organizational structure into her department.  She recently interviewed a candidate for a management position – a new MPH grad – and loved her for the position…then found out how much that person is currently making at her hospital job.  TCC is not able to even match that, let alone offer her something more than her current salary.  So the department remains with not enough organizational structure for now. 

I am starting to wonder how any of my class mates are able to finish their 200 hours in one summer term!  I have the fortunate situation of working a 10 hr/day, 4 day/week  job, and still I know I will have many hours left at the end of the summer session.  I am able to devote my whole day off each week to my practicum work, and several hours of working on my own outside of TCC, but I struggle to be able to achieve 13-15 hrs/week for various reasons, related in part to the schedules of the people I need to collaborate with at TCC.  I am enjoying my experience, but looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.  I know I will see it eventually…