CSTE, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has established this Fellowship to train recent graduates in the expanding field of applied epidemiology. The goal of the Fellowship is to provide a high quality training experience and to secure long-term career placement for Fellows at the state or local level. Participating fellows will receive two years of on-the-job training at a state health agency under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
Program Mission To meet the nation's ongoing need for applied epidemiology workforce capacity in state and local health departments through a national fellowship-training program. The fellowship will focus on balancing three key concepts, as identified in the CDC guidance document, Applied Epidemiology and Training Program (AETP) Development Handbook (McDonnell 2002):
Applied Epidemiology Fellowship The CDC/CSTE Fellowship is designed for recent master or doctoral level graduates in epidemiology or a related field who are interested in the practice of public health at the state or local level. While the program provides rigorous training for its participants, it is also designed with flexibility in order to meet the particular interests of the Fellow. Fellows are carefully matched to host agencies based on the career interests of the Fellow and available opportunities of the host agency. Program participants will develop a comprehensive set of core skills through competency-based training. Training Closely designed after the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program and using a mentorship model, The CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for graduates to acquire and develop epidemiologic skills during a high quality, on-the job-training program in public health practice. Fellows work closely with highly trained and experienced epidemiologists at the state and local level, as well as those working at the federal level with the CDC. All Fellowship graduates have secured permanent positions and most are furthering their careers in epidemiology at the state or local level. Mentor and Host Health Agency Each Applied Epidemiology Fellow is assigned to a designated host health agency and two highly trained and experienced mentors (primary and secondary mentors). Host health agencies are CDC and CSTE approved, with demonstrated capacity to provide an Applied Epidemiology Fellow with technical training, research opportunities, and practical experience in the application of epidemiologic methods.
Eligibility: To be eligible to be a Fellow, applicants are required to have the following:
Each Applied Epidemiology Fellow is assigned to a designated host health agency and mentors. Host health agencies are CDC and CSTE approved, with a demonstrated capacity to provide an Applied Epidemiology Fellow with technical training, research opportunities and practical experience in the application of epidemiologic methods. 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. Mentors are required to attend the annual CSTE Meeting held in June of each year. The mentors oversee the training, research and field activities of the fellow, ensure that the fellow is familiar with relevant techniques in a given specialty, and encourage the overall professional development of the fellow. Mentors help provide day to day activities that provide “hands on” epidemiology experience, and they possess the ability to help the Fellow achieve all of the program goals. Host health agencies are CDC and CSTE approved, with a demonstrated capacity to provide an Applied Epidemiology Fellow with technical training, research opportunities and practical experience in the application of epidemiologic methods. The mentors oversee the training, research and field activities of the Fellow, ensure that the Fellow is familiar with relevant techniques in a given specialty, and encourage the overall professional development of the Fellow. Host sites are selected based on the scope, quality, and diversity of the experience offered to the Fellow, the experience of supervisors in management, mentors’ number of years of experience in epidemiology, academic training of the mentors, the availability of office space, and letters of support for the agency seeking a Fellow. Mentors receive an initial orientation training conducted by the CSTE National Office prior to the Fellow’s arrival, and they participate in conference calls at various intervals during the course of the Fellowship. Host health agencies and mentors are also strongly encouraged to provide financial support and opportunities for the fellow to participate in other public health activities that will expand the fellows scope and depth of epidemiologic knowledge and/or expand his/her job-related capabilities. Should Fellows be required to participate in or attend meetings on behalf of the host health agency, the agency should assume responsibility for any expenses incurred by the Fellow. This includes travel expenses and costs associated with developing materials, etc. Fellows are expected to be integrated into the host site and treated like an entry level permanent employee. If employee programs are offered to regular permanent employees, host sites are expected to provide comparable programs and financial support for the fellow.
Applied Epidemiology Core Competencies Program participants will develop a comprehensive set of core skills through competency-based training. These competencies are expected to be fulfilled during the two-year Fellowship: Epidemiologic methods
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