Inside the practicum: How Wayne State public health undergrads shape health in Detroit

For Wayne State University public health students, Detroit is the ultimate classroom. Practicums, required experiential learning opportunities, take campus lessons and bring them to life inside the city's clinics and community organizations.

These experiences aren't just part of a Wayne State public health degree, they actively shape how these future leaders champion health and equity. Here are a few of their stories.

Fatema Sikdar

Major: Public health honors
Minor: Medical humanities
Practicum site: HUDA Clinic, medical intern

At Detroit's HUDA Clinic, Fatema Sikdar is working directly with uninsured and underserved populations, an experience that has been both personal and transformative.

"The most impactful part of my practicum at HUDA Clinic has been the opportunity to directly serve uninsured and underserved populations," Sikdar said.

She assists with triage, gathers medical and social histories and works alongside providers on diagnostic reasoning. Beyond clinical work, they are contributing to research analyzing hypertension among patients and exploring how factors such as income, education and access to food influence health outcomes.

"Interacting with patients, hearing their stories, and being part of a team that works to bridge these gaps has reinforced my passion for pursuing a career as a physician associate," Sikdar said.
For Sikdar, the practicum has reinforced a key lesson. "Compassionate care is just as important as clinical knowledge, especially when working with vulnerable populations."

Her advice is to stay curious and proactive. "Take initiative, ask questions, seek out opportunities, stay positive, and don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone," Sikdar said, adding that students should connect their experience to long-term goals.

Tykesha Boyer

Major: Public health honors
Minor: Social work and social justice
Practicum site:The Senior Alliance

For Tykesha Boyer, the practicum experience has been about understanding how systems work behind the scenes and how services reach the people who need them most.

"The most valuable part of my practicum site so far is collaborating with the different departments at The Senior Alliance and gaining insight on service planning and the roles of the different staff members," Boyer said.

Her work has touched nearly every part of the organization, from drafting a multi-year service plan to fact-checking data and developing surveys to gather feedback from older adults. Boyer has also helped update partnerships, attend meetings on program changes and research the impact of missed appointments. "What I'm doing at my site paves the way for how services will be utilized," Boyer said, noting the importance of keeping information current and responsive to community needs.

Her advice to future students is practical and focused: "Do what you find engaging and identify what skills or tasks you would like to improve."

Kellie Fehrenbaker

Major: Public health
Minor: Health psychology
Practicum site:Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Kellie Fehrenbaker's practicum highlights the intersection of public health and clinical care, particularly in moments when timely information can make a critical difference.

"The most impactful part of my practicum has been seeing how public health and clinical care intersect in real time," Fehrenbaker said.
Through work with the poison center, she has seen how education and immediate access to expert guidance can improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits.

Fehrenbaker's projects include developing youth surveys, creating educational materials on emerging substances and contributing to community outreach. She is also building a blog series focused on poison and injury prevention and developing guidance for healthcare providers and first responders.

"It has strengthened my understanding of how public health plays a critical role in both community safety and healthcare systems," Fehrenbaker said.

She encourages students to make the most of the opportunity. "Stay open to new experiences and take initiative whenever possible," they said. "Don't be afraid to ask questions, seek feedback and get involved in projects that challenge you."

Together, these experiences show how Wayne State public health students are not only learning about public health. They are actively shaping it in communities across Detroit.

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