More About the Program

Goal

The Epi Elective provides medical and veterinary students with a public health perspective during their clinical training.

 

Description

Students in their 3rd year apply for a 6 to 8 week rotation in the fall or spring semester of their 4th year. Every effort is made to assign students to their preferred public health subject area. 

Participants learn through hands-on experience working on a current public health project, and are mentored by experienced CDC staff. Most schools award course credit.

During the elective, participants may

• Participate in the surveillance of public health problems.
• Analyze public health data for new disease risk factors.
• Become a coauthor on a publication of major health importance.
• Work in the field investigating an outbreak.

Interested students apply online.

 

Schedule

Two rotations are available.

• Fall Semester: At least 6 weeks between June and December.
• Spring Semester: At least 6 weeks between January and May.

 

Cost

Relocation Expenses

Applicants selected for the program must pay for

• Round-trip transportation to their assigned CDC facility.
• Living expenses during the elective.

Assignment Expenses

Travel and living expenses related to field investigations are paid by CDC.

 

Assignment Locations

Selected students are placed in a subject area within CDC or the Indian Health Service.

• Arctic Investigations Program (part of NCPDCID)
  Anchorage, Alaska
• Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (part of NCZVED)
  Ft. Collins, Colorado
• Indian Health Service (IHS)
  Albuquerque, New Mexico
• National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
  Hyattsville, Maryland
• National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Preparedness, Detection and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)
  Atlanta, Georgia
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  Anchorage, Alaska
  Atlanta, Georgia
  Cincinnati, Ohio
  Denver, Colorado
  Morgantown, West Virginia
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  Spokane, Washington
  
• Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG)
  Atlanta, Georgia

 

More Information

Contact:

CDC Epidemiology Elective Program

Career Development Division

Office of Workforce and Career Development

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd, NE

Mailstop E-92

Atlanta, GA 30333

 

Phone: 404-498-6152

Fax: 404-498-6085

E-mail: EpiElective@cdc.gov