Developing Disease Fighters

The issue

The United States is experiencing a public health workforce crisis, with some estimates indicating that 250,000 more public health workers will be needed by 2020 to maintain public health capacity. On the global front, today we face a severe worldwide shortage of skilled disease detectives trained to find and stop health threats in a world where the next outbreak is only a plane ride away.

Why it matters

A robust, well-trained public health workforce is essential to protecting America’s health, safety and security—and the health of the world—now and in the future. Boots on the ground across the globe are key to detecting, responding and protecting us all from dangerous outbreaks.

Solution and impact

The CDC Foundation advances a number of training and development efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including:

  • Workforce and training initiatives led by CDC’s Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS), such as fellowships and learning opportunities.
  • The CDC Foundation manages the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Alumni Association, as well EIS-related funds and endowments. The EIS is a unique two-year post-graduate fellowship for future disease detectives who detect and respond to disease threats at home and abroad.
     
  • The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), modeled after EIS, trains a global workforce of disease detectives in over 70 countries.
     
  • Improving Public Health Management for Action (IMPACT) is a two-year training program owned and managed by ministries of health. Building on the success of EIS and FETP, IMPACT aims to create a cadre of in-country public health professionals trained to strengthen health program management.
  • The Tom Frieden Future Leaders Fund supports three CDC-led early-career training programs: EIS, the Public Health Associate Program and the recently-established Laboratory Leadership Service fellowship program.

How you can help

Give now: Developing disease fighters is crucial to the health and safety of America and the world. Join with the CDC Foundation to cultivate and nurture the next generation of public health leaders who will protect us all. Give now

Read a related story: Investing in Effective Health Management

Learn more: Contact Advancement at the CDC Foundation: advancement@cdcfoundation.org or 404.653.0790