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CDC Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute (EPHLI) is a 1-year program of seminars and workshops, special projects, and individual study. Each year, up to 30 practicing environmental public health professionals are admitted to the program. CDC will pay all allowable and approved costs associated with participation in the institute.

    Class of 2007–2008 graduation ceremony: February 26, 2008, at CDC’s Roybal campus [PDF 104 KB]

    EPHLI Fact Sheet [PDF 111 KB]


    Why EPHLI?

    The institute was developed to strengthen the country’s environmental public health system by enhancing the leadership capabilities of state and local environmental public health specialists. Emphasis is placed on

    • enhancing strategic visioning and direction-setting skills through critical thinking and analysis (systems thinking), political effectiveness, and organizational and team development;
    • using the core functions of public health as a foundation for achieving environmental public health goals;
    • creating proactive environmental public health leaders who can mobilize resources in response to the changing public health environment (core competencies);
    • enhancing the performance outcomes of the essential services of environmental public health; and
    • promoting and improving the delivery of environmental public health services to communities.

    How Does EPHLI Strengthen These Programs?

    EPHLI graduates use what they have learned to increase the ability of their environmental public health programs to provide essential environmental public health services. These state and local programs will be better able to respond to emerging environmental public health threats and coordinate the delivery of effective services to areas affected by environmental disasters.

    What Have Past Graduates Done?

    In February 2006, the first group of EPHLI scholars completed the program. Thirty-two scholars from across the United States prepared final reports for presentations or posters at graduation.

    Final reports from these and subsequent scholars address the following CDC Health Protection Goals of Healthy People in Healthy Places: Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes, Healthy Schools, and Healthy Travel and Recreation; and People Prepared for Emerging Health Threats.

    What is the Time Commitment?

    Fellows attend four in-person sessions, complete a final project, and complete systems thinking homework.

    Program sessions for the class of 2008-2009 are

    • February 25-29, 2008 program session, (fellow presentations and graduation; CDC, Atlanta) [PDF 104 KB]
    • May 12-16, 2008 (location to be determined)
    • October 20-24, 2008 (St. Louis, MO)
    • February 23-25, 2009 (fellow presentations and graduation; CDC, Atlanta)

    How Can I Sign Up for EPHLI?

    The application period for the class of 2008-2009 has closed.  Applications are accepted in the fall for the subsequent year's class: watch for announcements.

    The application instructions for the class of 2008-2009 are provided here for information only.


    Where Can I Get More Information about EPHLI?


    For more information about EPHLI, contact Sharon Dickerson, MPA at SDickerson@cdc.gov).

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