I know I am late but I thought I at least want to try and find an internship or something of the like this summer. I am from Oregon and am looking for something in the health/science field. The biggest caveat is that I will be gone a few weeks this summer for speech and debate camp, as well as a family trip. So it would need to be something fairly flexible or short.
NYU has short term (3-4 weeks) internships at their hospital. Interns shadow various health professionals. I think you are late for this summer but it is something to keep in mind for next summer. Housing is provided in the dorms.
Your best bet, given your time frame and plans, might be to make some calls and set up some informal hours on your own…if that is permitted.
Can you isolate a 4-6 week period where you are fully available? If so, that opens up more options. If you only have 2-3 weeks available in one go, an internship is probably not realistic at this stage, but continuing volunteering could be.
If you are (or can be) in Corvallis, and have a clear 4-6 week run (and ideally know anybody who knows anybody), at the Linus Pauling Institute) you could see if Dr. Emily Ho (antioxident nutrients) or Dr. Maret Traber (Vitamin E research) would take you on. Do some homework before contacting them, and know that it’s a very long shot. Over at the College of Public Health check out Dr. Norm Hord (dietary factors in cancer and cardiovascular disease risk) or Dr David Dallas (digestion in premature infants- basically milk peptides). Research ahead of time and mine every source of contacts that you have.
If you are in Portland, and have a clear run, you might try doing something bold like contacting the Portland Pediatric and Family Nutrition Center (which is private, not public) and offering to volunteer in their office for the period (insert your dates). Do a little homework first, and think of what you could do for them (based on your skills, including office skills).
For intermittent volunteering over the course of the summer. check out your local food bank (oregonfoodbank.org) or the state-run Summer Food Service Programs (and other programs) across the state- check out oregonhunger.org for places that you could reach out to. That could be enough exposure to frame your narrative of a changing focus from political science to public health (bringing the tools of polsci/debating with you to the science and the advocacy sides of public health).