This is a very unique opportunity. This is one of the few programs designed for people like me who don't have a lot of public health experience.

PHPS Alumni

Applicant Information

The Public Health Prevention Service (PHPS) is seeking enthusiastic, highly motivated, committed, and qualified candidates for its 3-year on-the-job training and service program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, candidates must have the following qualifications:

• U. S. citizenship;
• master's degree in public health or management-related field from an accredited college or university;
• minimum of 1 year paid public health work experience;
• academic achievement in areas of
  • epidemiology/biostatistics;
  • biological, physical, and environmental sciences;
  • behavioral and social sciences;
  • health education and promotion; and
  • management and administration.

Personal Attributes

The PHPS program is seeking candidates with the following skill sets:

• analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills;
• flexibility, ability to adapt quickly and enjoy challenge of change, including relocations;
• ability to work as part of a team;
• ability to formulate plans of action; and
• leadership and management skills.

Selection Process

PHPS’s focus is program management. Each year up to 25 candidates are selected for the program.

During the first year of the program, participants complete two 6-month assignments in program management at a CDC facility. These assignments are in various program areas (e.g., maternal and child health, tuberculosis elimination, and immunization), and focus on the development and application of certain skills. During these assignments, participants develop relationships and build networks that benefit them throughout their careers. Work assignments are supplemented with PHPS-sponsored training.

The following are examples of Prevention Specialist assignments.

• Develop a plan for the 12-step program to prevent anti-microbial resistance in long-term care residents.
• Develop a strategic marketing and implementation plan and evaluate program effects.
• Develop health communication and information dissemination projects for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder programs and for Legacy for Children™.
• Conduct analytic review of extramural programs to evaluate geographic diversity, geographic distribution and assessment.
• Combine and compare data from Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSESS) database with emergency disaster research results; determine current patterns in HAZMAT spills; predict consequences of a large-scale, mass-casualty hazardous substance event.
• Evaluate and identify public health performance indicators and economic measures for the TB surveillance and action assessment model; expand pilot testing; develop a standardized model for surveillance evaluation at the state level.

In the second and third years of the program, each participant will be placed in a single field assignment within a public health agency (e.g. state or local health department, community-based organization, or public health institute etc.). Responsibilities will vary throughout the 2-year period. Field placements are based on program needs. Prevention Specialists geographic preferences will be accommodated when possible.

Career Enhancement

Because of the unique training and work experience gained through the PHPS program, participants completing the program will join a prestigious cadre of public health professionals who

• are highly competitive in the public health job market;
• maintain responsible roles within state, local, national, and international public health programs; and
• are future leaders in public health practice.

Salary and Benefits

The current base salary for the first year is a GS-9 equivalent, with geographic adjustments and potential increases in the second and third years. Benefits include vacation and sick leave, health insurance, and specific relocation expenses.

Application

For more information on applying to the PHPS program, download the PHPS Application Instructions .

Interviews

Typically, candidates are notified in March whether they will be invited to participate in the interview process. Interviews are scheduled between April and May, and candidates must travel to Atlanta at their own expense. The half-day interview includes individual and group exercises that assess interpersonal relations, team skills, analytical thinking, and oral and written skills.

Timeline

*exact start date to be determined.