Feature: The CDC Experience Applied Epidemiology Fellowship - Call for Applications
Are you a medical student looking for something different to do next year? We want people - just like you!
- Are you curious about how public health and the CDC work?
- Do you want to work with state, local and international public health partners?
- Are you interested in being ahead of the curve on prevention and accountability in health reform?
- Would you like to enhance your skills to address health and healthcare disparities?
- Would you be interested in:
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- investigating outbreaks of tuberculosis among the homeless, or in a prison population?
- traveling to Latin America to help set up a surveillance program for pertussis?
- assessing risk factors for birth defects using national data bases?
- being at the forefront of injury prevention research?
- participating in the response to a public health emergency?
Do you want an experience that offers an opportunity to enhance your research skills, build leadership potential, and improve your clinical acumen via a population health perspective, all by working on real-life problems in a diverse work environment? Then consider applying to The CDC Experience!
The CDC Experience Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is a one-year fellowship tailored for rising 3rd- and 4th-year medical students, designed to increase the pool of physicians with a population health perspective. Eight competitively selected fellows spend 10-12 months at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offices in Atlanta, GA, where they carry out epidemiologic analyses in various areas of public health. Examples of previous and current areas of concentration include viral and bacterial diseases, cardiovascular health, obesity prevention, birth defects, STDs, injury prevention, and air pollution and respiratory health.
What current fellows and alumni have to say about their fellowship experiences:
"Every day has been filled with people talking about the incredible ways that epidemiologists impact health, and it's refreshingly practical. They understand how to crunch the numbers to acutely illuminate health-related issues, and respond to people in need. Even more, they get to collaborate with policymakers and understand how the system works overall. I feel more empowered to establish sustainable change and understand the greater context of health than before. It's as if I am finally learning the secrets of how change actually happens, and it reminds me of why I went into Medicine." - Geoff Hart-Cooper, Class of 2012
I will forever draw on my experience and skills learned this year to better critically evaluate science, lead teams, and hone my writing and presentation skills… I would like to be an academic surgeon and practice clinically. However, this year has really opened my eyes to the role the public health and epidemiology can have in research and academics. While I would like to work "downstream" clinically, I think my experiences here have inspired me to focus my research efforts more "upstream" (i.e. research demographic/epidemiologic risk factors for a certain injury/pathology but still be able to see and treat that specific patient in the operating room). - Fernando Ovalle, Class of 2011
"I came to this fellowship with a strong interest in public health, but felt very disconnected from that dream while in medical school. My fellowship experience not only re-motivated me for a career in public health, but showed me the array of options available. I feel less like my interest in public health was some far-fetched dream and am now more committed than ever to find my way back to this arena." - Diya Surie, Class of 2010
This experience was an incredible introduction to the breadth of topics in public health thanks to my mentors being sure to involve me in a wide variety of projects. This exposure revealed the many career options available through public health. Also, I had little experience in research prior to the fellowship. The skills learned from going through the entire research process from proposal to publishing will be very valuable in the future. - Charlene Wong, Class of 2008
"I now have the confidence to bring a public health perspective to clinical medicine. Before participating in the fellowship, I could talk about some of the things that public health was about but didn't think I could lead the way in incorporating public health, either through research or practice - now I can. I will use the skills I gained to better my clinical practice and continue to act as an ambassador for public health and its role in clinical institutions." - Adrian Flores, Class of 2006
"The year I spent in Atlanta was such an important part of my career development. The Fellowship was such a great experience; the further along I progress in my career the more I realize how valuable the experience has been to my professional development." - Jonathon Neyer, Class of 2006
To learn more about The CDC Experience Fellowship and to apply online, visit us at .
Applications for next year's fellowship class must be submitted by Friday December 7, 2012.
Questions? Ask us at cdcexperience@cdcfoundation.org.