The goal of the Applied Epidemiology Fellowship program is to attract and prepare public health epidemiologists for careers with state and local health departments. The two-year program recruits and trains qualified candidates to support public health initiatives and provide opportunities for neophyte epidemiologists to expand their skills to a level where they function as competent epidemiologists with little or no supervision. Upon completion of the Fellowship, graduates will be prepared to conduct day-to-day epidemiological activities and research on issues that affect public health.

The Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is designed to accomplish one of CDC’s defined prevention strategy goals of “strengthening local, state, and federal public health infrastructures to support surveillance and implement prevention and control programs.” Further, Healthy People 2010 workforce objectives are being met in areas of:

Incorporation of specific competencies in the essential public health services into the personnel systems Increase proportion of Tribal, State, and Local public health agencies that provide or assure comprehensive epidemiology services to support essential public health services

Mentors play a crucial role in the success of the Fellowship program. Their expertise and skill provide the backbone to the success of the training of the Fellows, who will eventually serve as leaders in applied public health epidemiology.   In order to ensure the integrity and success of the program, mentors are required to fulfill the responsibilities outlined below. Although Fellows may possess sophisticated skills, they require guidance and direction from their mentors.

The mentors are required to: Oversee the Fellow’s work activities by: o   Creating an environment that fosters professional development o   Offering advice and assistance o   Integrating the Fellow into the host site environment Help the Fellow broaden his/her network of professional colleagues Help the Fellow assess resources needed to accomplish goals by, for example, gaining access to data and subject-matter experts Support and encourage the Fellow in his or her technical and professional development  Provide financial support for meeting attendance, professional development, and work related materials (e.g. computer, statistical software, phone, pens, pencils, etc) Provide the Fellow with the same administrative support and provisions that host site employees are provided  Express a caring and interested attitude in the Fellow’s present activities, future goals, and interpersonal relationships with agency staff Commit to spend four hours per week with the Fellow during the first month and then two hours per week with the Fellow thereafter Attend the CSTE Annual Conference in Buffalo, NY June 7-11, 2009 (primary mentor) Assist the Fellows in securing long term job placement after the Fellowship

Host Agency Selection:   Each health agency must identify a particular program area in which the Fellow will be placed: Injury Infectious Disease Chronic Disease Maternal and Child health Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Application Process: The Host Site Application is due on October 29, 2009. Health agencies must submit applications to CSTE that describe the Fellowship assignment within a specified program area, supervision, support structure, and workspace proposed for the Fellow. All applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from the applicant's State Epidemiologist. Complete applications will be reviewed by the National Office and by one or more experienced epidemiologists and are evaluated on: The scope, quality, and diversity of experience offered to the Fellow, Experience of supervisors in management, epidemiology, mentoring, Potential long-term career placement for the Fellow, Potential professional development opportunities and financial support provided for the Fellow, Availability of office space, computer and office/technical support, and Letters of support for the agency seeking a Fellow. Mentorship: Proposals must include two designated mentors: a primary mentor and a secondary mentor. The primary mentor is required to hold a doctoral level degree, and it is preferred that the secondary mentor have doctoral level training as well. One or both of the mentors must devote four hours per week to spend with the Fellow during the first month of the Fellowship and two hours per week for the duration. The primary mentor is required to attend the CSTE Annual Conference at least one of the two years while hosting a fellow. Successful host agencies will have experienced mentors, day to day activities that provide “hands on” epidemiology experience, and the ability to help the Fellow achieve all of the program goals. Click here to begin application