Apply to Host an EEP Student

EEP student conducts soil sampling for Burkholderia pseudomallei as part of field work with a health department.

CDC’s Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) is a short-term experiential, service-learning rotation in applied epidemiology, public health, and global health. EEP provides the opportunity for medical and veterinary students to learn through trainings and by completing projects with CDC sites; state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments; and other federal sites. Becoming a host site allows you to mentor future public health clinicians and/or practitioners.

During the 6- or 8-week rotation, host sites are responsible for supervision, mentorship, and day-to-day experiences with applied epidemiology, public health, or global health through projects and assignments. In previous years, students have collected and analyzed health data, assisted with outbreak investigations, evaluated intervention strategies, conducted literature reviews, and drafted reports. Hear from students about their past host site work and fellowship experiences on the EEP Testimonial page.

Student clinicians:

• are available for 6- or 8-weeks during set rotation period in January and March,
• are assigned based on the needs and availability of the requesting host site and the career goals and interests of the student,
• can participate in person with a telework option, remotely, or hybrid (e.g., 3 weeks in person, 3 weeks remotely),
• are onboarded to CDC by the EEP program and have access to the CDC network,
• are available at no cost to the host site, and
• are provided with an in-person orientation training at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and a variety of in person and virtual training opportunities throughout each rotation period.

Through this public health service, student clinicians gain a public health perspective that influences their career choices and practice. The program was initiated in 1975 and has more than 2,100 graduates. Approximately 12% of EEP graduates joined CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service and more than 60% go on to begin public health careers after EEP.