Success Story: Shaping their public health journey: Former FoodCORE and OutbreakNet Enhanced students soar to success

Serving public health

Students in Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE) and OutbreakNet Enhanced (OBNE) agencies provide enhanced capacity for investigating outbreaks. In this story, former FoodCORE and OBNE students share how their roles supported their agencies’ mission and their careers. They also share advice and words of wisdom for current and prospective students.

Former students found their positions through a variety of mechanisms. Many discovered opportunities through academic resources including graduate programs' internship postings, university listservs, and new student campus visit events. Others used online resources, such as job hiring websites and student-led groups on social media, to find their positions.

After they're hired, students typically serve one to two years. In their roles, they work on a variety of projects, from surveillance to local cluster investigations to multi-state outbreaks and special projects. Former students supported investigations like the 2018 Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to pre-cut melon and the recent 2024 Diamond Schruumz investigation.

When asked to describe the best aspects of the job, several cited working at the forefront of public health. Lauren Edwards, former OBNE student, enjoyed "being able to sink your teeth into the entire foodborne investigation process."

Angelo Lodato, a former FoodCORE student, appreciated "becoming a subject matter expert, doing interviews, [and] working with lab liaisons." A former OBNE student, Carolyn Stover, valued "getting to talk to patients and families and putting pieces [of the investigation] together."

Advancing their public health careers

Former students view their experience as a great foundation to their career. After completing their roles, many continued to serve public health. Former students have gone on to become state, local, and federal epidemiologists, program directors, and FoodCORE and OBNE program coordinators. Having background knowledge about their agencies and their structures was crucial in adjusting to permanent positions and advancing their careers. Gaining applied public health experience outside of the classroom and networking with experts in the field was invaluable to their careers.

"[I was] able to build relationship[s] with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; got to know the people, language, and paradigms," says Edwards. "[This] has been invaluable, and I don't know how people do it without having that background."

Another former OBNE student shared that her undergraduate position helped her secure graduate-level projects with her mentors. These experiences supported her career path to becoming a program director role at a state health department.

Sharing advice and words of wisdom

Building relationships with experienced public health professionals and learning from their experiences is vital for career growth and planning. Several shared advice and encouragement for current and prospective students.

For students starting out

Establishing your career is an exciting time filled with opportunity. Former students stress the importance of young professionals' willingness to learn, ask questions, and observe others.

"Practice [case interviewing] beforehand with [your program] coordinator to build confidence," says Hatil Amin, a former FoodCORE student.

Stover noted the importance of treating interviews like a conversation instead of a set of questions. Amin also notes that students should "practice active listening and be confident in the way you present yourself."

Students are typically the first people that the public interacts with in public health.

"You're the face of the health department, directly shaping the public's perception of public health," says Johnny Croft, a former FoodCORE student.

This presents a valuable opportunity for students to learn from and understand diverse cultural backgrounds, food preferences, and food-handling practices. One former OBNE student encouraged students to appreciate the knowledge gained from people of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. To successfully reach ill people and their communities, interviews and prevention messaging must be culturally competent and appropriate.

For working through difficult interviews

All former students reflected that while most interviews are positive, some can be difficult. They emphasized the importance of having empathy and putting people first when dealing with challenging interviews.

"Take a step back and recognize that anger [may be] coming from a scared or concerned place," says Lodato. "Think about the patients' perspectives. Meet anger with grace and understanding. Kindness might change their perspective."

For transitioning to a full-time career in public health

Former FoodCORE and OBNE students encourage graduating students to stay flexible and proud of their achievements.

"Don't sell yourself short," says Lodato. "It's easy to say, 'I'm just an interviewer', but it teaches you essential public health work."

Forging your path

Investing in the public health workforce early sets individuals and health departments up for success. If you're interested in a public health career, joining a student team to gain applied experience is a great steppingstone to a rewarding career. It allows young professionals to engage in learning, gain applied experience, and receive mentorship. Students also learn about the agency's mission, organization, and structure. Health departments gain surge capacity and a trained workforce that can be retained as students transition to full-time careers.