Health Literacy

About Health Literacy

Health Literacy is a young, multidisciplinary field that was brought to Children’s Health in 2014. At the forefront of research and on the cutting edge of clinical integration, the Health Literacy Program is committed to addressing inequities and disparities in health care through clear communication, cultural engagement, provider collaboration and community engagement.  

Overview of the Internship

Interns are responsible for co-planning and co-implementing health literacy projects under the direction of a Health Literacy Coordinator and/or Research Scientist; assisting with data collection and evaluation; and co-designing and evaluating health literacy training curriculum. Health Literacy interns must have solid organizational skills, excellent communication skills, and be a self-starter with the ability to work effectively in a team environment. As a Health Literacy intern, you will interface with clinicians, hospital administrators, academicians, patients/families, and community stakeholders as our team works to understand, assess and address the complexities of health literacy. As you work to actively support the heath literacy team, you will gain real world experiences that can be applied to future careers or continued education.

  • We offer spring, summer, and fall internships

  • All internships are at the Children’s Health Dallas campus

  • Practicum length and hours vary by school requirements

  • Each intern will complete a project that will be determined based on the intern’s interests and the needs of the Program

  • Requires standing, walking, or moving around the work place and other locations outside the hospital.

Possible Projects

Projects include developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based health literacy initiatives geared towards training providers/staff on health literacy and empowering families to take charge of their children’s health.Current projects may include:

  • Pilot testing printed educational materials by interviewing families seen in the emergency department

  • Creating/evaluating/implementing health literacy curriculum for hospital staff/providers

  • Collecting data on patients’ and caregivers’ lexicon for the human body,  medical equipment, and clinical procedures      

  • Working closely with the research team to assess provider/patients’ caregivers perceived health education needs and preferences 

  • Helping to develop electronic/web-based health literacy materials and tools 

Currently Affiliated Schools

We currently are contracted with the below schools:

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW)

  • Texas A&M University (TAMU)

  • University of North Texas (UNT)

  • Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Don’t see your school? Contact us to talk about your school and current program. The preferred majors or degrees for an internship are in: Anthropology, Psychology, Medical Sociology, Health Education, Public Health, Education or other health-related majors.

For more Information/Questions

Rose Jones, PhD, Senior Research Scientistrose.jones@childrens.com214.456.6671