Practicum

Social work education and practicum lead to life‑changing client outcomes

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:22:42 +0000

Social work education and practicum lead to life‑changing client outcomes Taylor Thomas Thu, 04/30/2026 - 09:22

Key Takeaways:

First-generation George Mason social work student Evelyn Carcamo is graduating after six years of balancing work, parenting, and school.
Through her practicum at Ayuda, she connects immigrants and refugee survivors with resources
Carcamo plans to pursue a master’s in social work and become a licensed clinical social worker serving underserved communities.

At the local nonprofit Ayuda, one client came to Evelyn Carcamo overwhelmed. With limited access to food and no clear way to get health care, he wasn’t sure how to provide for his family.

Carcamo, a social work student at 91��'s College of Public Health, helped him sort through his options. She connected him to food assistance and walked him through applying for Medicaid, linking him to medical and mental health services.

Evelyn Carcamo. Photo provided.

Over time, she saw a shift in the way he engaged. “He became more confident, more comfortable asking questions, and more involved in planning next steps for himself,” she said.

Carcamo is completing her practicum at Ayuda as part of her bachelor’s degree program at George Mason, conducting intakes and needs assessments for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and other crimes. Many of her clients are immigrants and refugees navigating systems that feel unfamiliar and intimidating to them.

“They’re high-need clients,” she said. “But it's very rewarding.”

It’s work she recognizes on a personal level. Carcamo grew up watching her parents, who came to the United States from El Salvador before she was born, teach themselves English and wade through resources without guidance.

In May, Carcamo will graduate as a first-generation college student. She wants to continue her work serving immigrant and underserved communities as a clinical social worker, with plans to start George Mason’s master of social work program next fall.

Shifting goals

For Carcamo, a career in social work marks a shift years in the making.

Growing up in Arlington, Virginia, Carcamo never saw higher education as a given. High school graduation was the milestone. After earning her diploma, she went straight into the workforce as a medical assistant and, at 25, gave birth to her son.

For three years at Mason and Partners Clinic, Carcamo served as an interpreter for largely uninsured, Spanish-speaking patients. Many of them revealed more than their symptoms.

“People would tell me their whole story,” she said. “And then they’d leave, and I’d still think about them, like, ‘Oh, I wonder if they got that resource they needed.’”

Moments like that changed how she thought about helping people. “That’s how I started to realize I wanted to do something beyond medical,” she said. “I wanted to make a difference in another way.”

At the same time, she’d hit a ceiling in her career. “I realized I had to go back to school or I wasn’t going to move forward,” she said.

Carcamo first enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College, then transferred to 91�� through the ADVANCE Program.

“As a medical assistant, I was very task-focused and centered on immediate physical needs,” Carcamo said. “Now, I take a more holistic and trauma-informed approach. I spend more time listening, building trust, and understanding each client’s lived experience. This shift has made my work feel more meaningful and more connected to the people I serve.”

Her coursework at George Mason has helped her appreciate more fully what her clients are up against. “They’re not just dealing with individual challenges, but also bigger systemic issues like language access, immigration concerns, and financial stress,” she said.

Finding her place

While raising her son, now 9 years old, on her own., Carcamo has earned Dean’s List recognition and received the Rose Rago Braddock Endowed Scholarship, awarded based on merit and financial need.

“It’s been overwhelming sometimes,” she said. “I have to make sure my job is flexible. I have to make sure I get my assignments turned in on time. I have to make sure I make it to practicum and get my hours. I have to be at my son’s events and make sure he’s well taken care of.”

She’s steadied herself by focusing on the long view. “It’s just temporary,” she would repeat. “The finish line is almost there.”

After six years of balancing work, parenting, and school at George Mason, Carcamo is now just weeks away from graduating. And her younger sister, now at Virginia Commonwealth University, is also hoping to pursue social work, following a path Carcamo helped clear.

"I always tell her, get it done now," Carcamo said. "It will be so much easier than what I did. If I can show her it's possible, that means everything to me.”

Topics

Bachelor of Social Work

CPH - Social Work

social work students

Social Work

Social Work Education

From practicum to profession: MSW program skills helped this student turn her internship into a full-time role

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:32:45 +0000

From practicum to profession: MSW program skills helped this student turn her internship into a full-time role Taylor Thomas Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:32

91�� Master of Social Work (MSW) student Heather Apostol is the model of translating academic-experiential learning into professional skills, thanks to her practicum at True Ground Housing Partners. Her program implementation abilities led to her promotion from MSW Resident Services Intern to a full-time position as Resident Services Coordinator.

True Ground Housing Partners is one of the country’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developers, providing housing to thousands in the Washington, D.C., area. As an intern, Apostol supported residents across multiple affordable housing communities through case management, housing stabilization efforts, and community programming. After interning during the fall 2025 semester, the transition was seamless.

Heather Apostol. Photo provided.

Apostol now coordinates rental assistance efforts, collaborates with county agencies and property management, and connects residents to community-based resources. Additionally, she develops and facilitates programming focused on youth empowerment, financial literacy, culture and community, and more.

“I immediately felt connected with the work. I was very excited to be entered into the Resident Services Coordinator role,” said Apostol, MSW '26, who began her full-time position in January 2026. "Because I was already familiar with the residents, staff, and some of the operations, it felt like a natural next step and allowed me to continue building relationships while expanding my responsibilities."

Apostol’s supervisor, Dannette Lawrence, speaks highly of Apostol’s aptitude, ability to be transparent, reflective, and consistent during her internship.

“Heather demonstrated professionalism, empathy, and initiative early on, approaching her work with curiosity and accountability while building meaningful connections with residents and colleagues and thoughtfully applying her academic training to real-world practice. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to witness Heather’s growth from a social work student into a thoughtful, dedicated changemaker committed to serving the community as a Resident Services Coordinator at True Ground Housing,” said Lawrence, associate director of True Ground Housing.

The MSW at George Mason’s College of Public Health provides a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, ecological systems theory, policy analysis, and ethical decision-making. Apostol says these frameworks directly inform her daily practice in affordable housing settings.

“George Mason’s program emphasized evidence-based interventions and reflective practice, which strengthened my assessment skills, professional documentation, and confidence in interdisciplinary collaboration. I feel well-prepared to navigate both individual-level case management and systems-level advocacy,” said Apostol.

Influenced by culture, leading with care

Apostol cites her cultural heritage in shaping her commitment to serving others. As a Filipino social worker, the Filipino value of bayanihan—the spirit of community cooperation and helping one another—deeply influences her approach to supporting individuals and families.

“This cultural foundation reminds me that caring for others is not just a profession, but a shared responsibility rooted in empathy, humility, and service. Being Filipino allows me to bring cultural awareness, resilience, and a strong sense of community into my practice as a social worker,” said Apostol, who proudly shares she is the first in her family to receive a master’s degree.

Key Takeaways:

Master of Social Work student Heather Apostol’s practicum at True Ground Housing Partners has led to a full-time position as Resident Services Coordinator.
The Master of Social Work at George Mason’s College of Public Health prepares future professionals through evidence-based social work frameworks and experiential learning.
Apostol credits her Filipino heritage for instilling in her the values of compassion, humility, service, and community-building.

Request information abot the Master of Social Work

Topics

social work students

master of social work

Practicum

CPH students

experiential learning

Graduation

Students

Practicum opens new doors to clinical research and data analysis

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:55:18 +0000

Practicum opens new doors to clinical research and data analysis Mary Cunningham Mon, 07/14/2025 - 10:55

For 91�� master of public health student Olivia Thornton, completing a practicum at the Inova Fairfax Department of Community Health was an opportunity to step into the field and explore public health in action. Thornton is on track to graduate in Fall 2025.

Oliva Thornton presents her research at the College of Public Health's Celebration of Scholarship. Photo provided.

With responsibilities that included promoting participation in the Community Health Needs Assessment at local events, attending stakeholder meetings, and conducting qualitative data analysis on community feedback, Thornton was immersed in the essential work of community engagement from day one.

One of the most valuable takeaways? “I learned how crucial it is to engage directly with the community,” she said. “It’s one thing to study public health strategies in class—it's another to see how those strategies are shaped by real voices and lived experiences.”

The practicum also strengthened her confidence in two key areas: data collection and participant recruitment—both of which are foundational for Thornton’s intended career in clinical research or data analysis. “Before this experience, I wasn’t as confident in those skills. Now, I feel much more prepared to take them into my future work.”

Equally important was the chance to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and community organizations, gaining a better understanding of how partnerships help drive meaningful change in public health.

When asked what advice she would give to other students preparing for their internships, her message was simple: Keep an open mind. “Don’t overlook an opportunity just because it doesn’t perfectly match your original plan," she said. "Some of the most valuable experiences come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Look for roles that challenge you and offer a variety of responsibilities—you’ll be surprised by how much you grow.”

Through meaningful engagement, new skills, and real-world collaboration, this practicum gave Thornton a clearer vision of where they’re headed—and the confidence to get there.

Topics

Capstone Practicum Helps MHA Alumni Provide Better Results for Patients

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 14:46:34 +0000

Capstone Practicum Helps MHA Alumni Provide Better Results for Patients John Brandon C… Mon, 03/21/2022 - 10:46

MHA alumni credit their capstone internship and research experiences with preparing them for their careers in health administration.

Winter MHA 2021 capstone practicum students.

For students who want to solve real-world health care problems like helping a hospital system create a disaster management plan or developing a security plan for a location health department, Mason’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) in Health Systems Management program is the place to practice and gain those skills with guidance from professionals.

Whether in person or online, the MHA program culminates in a real-world capstone practicum project where students solve a health care problem for an organization or company they are interested in, all with the guidance of a preceptor who is a professional in the field. Projects have included improving a COVID-19 testing and vaccination initiative, creating an improved patient intake plan, creating a strategy to reduce falls at a senior living facility, identifying the impact a hurricane had on suicides in Puerto Rico, and developing an online dashboard for a medical center, among others.

Recent alumni from the program agree that the capstone, which comes at the end of two years of coursework, and the program provided them with well-rounded health care skills that have helped them succeed in their careers.

“My capstone project taught me to be confident in my skills. I knew my perceived worth at my place of employment already so chose to do my project at a different location. Meeting new people, networking, and collaborating to produce a project that was centered on their needs helped me realize that I can step out of my comfort zone and still be successful,” said Kathy Hubbard, MHA ’21, whose project assessed injury prevention at a retirement community.

The field-based capstone practicum provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in class and through faculty collaboration to key health care executives while conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to inform an executive decision regarding a complex problem.

"The most important lesson I learned from my capstone is to ask ‘why’ and strive for better results for our patients and providers."

Jake Rodriguez, MHA '21

“The most important lesson I learned from my capstone is to ask ‘why’ and strive for better results for our patients and providers. I was able to completely change the way my team outreaches to patients and leveraged the data analysis in the project to improve the accuracy of our patient panel attribution, greatly improving our cost of care metrics,” said Jake Rodriguez, MHA ’21. For his capstone, Rodriguez’s looked at a health care system’s highest cost “unengaged” patients to improve preventative health outcomes and the total cost of care.

Jake Rodriguez, MHA '21, discusses his practicum project.

Capstone projects can help students prepare for their future jobs, and sometimes lead to a job after graduation. The projects always provide students with growth, development, and help them learn something new about health care or their desired specialty.

“The capstone opened my eyes to the world of data analytics and its critical role in the health care setting. [I developed] a relentless determination and will to seek out and create opportunities for professional development and personal enhancement,” said Rehan Saeed, who now works at his dream job as a staff consultant at Federal Advisory Partners.

Experienced Preceptors, Supportive Networks

From hospitals, health care clinics, and private practices to government agencies and departments of health, preceptors mentor students in all types of health care facilities and organizations in the private and public sectors. Each student identifies a mentor to help guide them to create a worthwhile project for the host organization and the student and support the student in their research.

“My preceptor was an experienced Registered Nurse (RN). She helped prepare me by giving me opportunities to ask questions but then challenged me to answer them through reflection. This was important to me because I truly believe there is more value in presenting a solution than a question in many circumstances,” said Hubbard, currently the RN Clinical Supervisor for the Internal Medicine Department at Eastern Virginia Medical School. “In health care, we know what the problems are, we have asked all the questions before and done the research again and again. Like the MHA program, my preceptor instilled in me a sense of urgency to create and implement the solutions to the problems we identified.”

Preceptors have included administrators at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Office of Strategic Policy, Mason and Partners Clinic, Sunrise Senior Living, National Institutes of Health, Medical University of South Carolina, Kaiser Permanente, Maryland Department of Health, and Healthcare Sustainability and Relief Effort, and many more.

Career-Ready and Always Learning

Kathy Hubbard, MHA '21 presents her practicum research findings.

“The work I did throughout the MHA program triggered my interest in a career change toward consulting. I had always worked in administrative roles – HR, business management, operations. The capstone work pushed me harder toward the career change and I ultimately decided to ask for a position as a consultant [at my current company],” said Sara Hodgson, who is a double Mason alumna with an MHA and a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management. Hodgson is a partner at The Moran Company, a health care research and consulting firm. “It is a complete career switch, but one I am glad I made and perhaps would not have made (or been qualified for) without working through the MHA program and my capstone project.”

The MHA program and its capstone practicum prepare students to thrive in the field of health care as administrators in a variety of roles. Students leave the program ready to take on the challenges of health equity and the health care system.

“The best thing that I learned from my capstone is that there is still work to be done. Health care is an industry that is constantly evolving,” said Jose Vazquez, who currently works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He aims to be a health care administrator within the federal health care system. “Also, I learned that adaptability has to be crucial for health care professionals because in times of crisis we have to respond and provide concrete solutions to deliver the best care possible.”

And Mason students are prepared and excited to do the work.

Learn more about Mason’s on-campus MHA program. Learn more about Mason’s online MHA program.