Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) (Boots-on-the-Ground Disease Detectives)
EIS officers serve on the front lines of public health, protecting Americans and the global community, while training under the guidance of seasoned mentors. When disease outbreaks or other public health threats emerge, EIS officers investigate, identify the cause, rapidly implement control measures, and collect evidence to recommend preventive actions.
During this 2-year experiential service fellowship, EIS officers serve our country while learning to apply epidemiology and gaining practical skills to become future public health leaders.
EIS officers protect the public’s health by serving CDC, other public health agencies and partners. While working in their assignments and deployments, they
– Conduct or participate in field investigations
– Design, conduct, and interpret epidemiological analyses
– Evaluate public health surveillance systems
– Give public health talks about their work
– Give oral presentations to scientific audiences
– Write scientific manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
– Write concise public health updates communicating timely information
– Write abstracts
– Communicate complex scientific concepts to lay audiences
2 years
The hiring mechanism for incoming EIS officers depends on citizenship status and other factors. Following are the options for each scenario.
- U.S. citizens: Civil service (Title-42 Fellowships and Other Training Programs) or U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (requires USPHS application after EIS acceptance)
- U.S. permanent residents: Civil service (Title 42)
- Non-U.S. citizens without U.S. permanent resident status: CDC-sponsored J-1 visa (Exchange Visitor category)
Physicians (e.g., MD, DO, MBBS)
– Must have completed your medical degree by the time you submit your application
– Must have an active, unrestricted, U.S. license to practice medicine by the time of application
a. If currently completing an ACGME residency or fellowship, you may apply with a training license, but must be able to provide an unrestricted license by the start date of the EIS fellowship.
– Strongly encouraged to have by the time of application:
a. An MPH or equivalent degree (e.g., MS, MSc, MHI, MHA, MHSA, MA, MPVM with coursework in epidemiology or quantitative methods), OR
b. At least one year of full-time public health work experience. Examples of relevant public health work experience include:
1. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at a local, state, or federal agency
2. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at an international governmental or non-governmental organization
3. 1 year of post-doctoral work in public health sciences
Veterinarians (e.g., DVM, VMD)
– Must have completed your veterinary degree by July 1st, and
– Must have an active, unrestricted U.S. license to practice veterinary medicine by July 1st
– Strongly encouraged to have by the time of application:
a. An MPH or equivalent degree (e.g., MS, MSc, MHI, MHA, MHSA, MA, MPVM with coursework in epidemiology or quantitative methods), OR
b. At least one year of full time public health work experience. Examples of relevant public health work experience include:
1. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at a local, state, or federal agency
2. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at an international governmental or non-governmental organization
3. 1 year of post-doctoral work in public health sciences
Nurses (e.g., BSN, MSN)
– Must have completed a minimum of a BSN by the time you submit your application, and
– Must have an active, unrestricted U.S. license to practice nursing by the time you submit your application
– Strongly encouraged to have by the time of application:
a. MPH or equivalent degree (e.g., MS, MSc, MHI, MHA, MHSA, MA, MPVM with coursework in epidemiology or quantitative methods) in addition to your nursing degree, OR
b. At least one year of full-time public health work experience. Examples of relevant public health work experience include:
1. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at a local, state, or federal agency
2. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at an international governmental or non-governmental organization
3. 1 year of post-doctoral work in public health sciences
Allied healthcare professions (e.g., DDS, DMD, PA, PharmD)
– Must have completed your clinical degree by the time you submit your application, and
– Must have an active, unrestricted U.S. license to practice your clinical specialty by the time of application
– Strongly encouraged to have by the time of application:
a. MPH or equivalent degree (e.g., MS, MSc, MHI, MHA, MHSA, MA, MPVM with coursework in epidemiology or quantitative methods), OR
b. At least one year of full-time public health work experience. Examples of relevant public health work experience include:
1. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at a local, state, or federal agency
2. 1 year of full-time public health-related work at an international governmental or non-governmental organization
3. 1 year of post-doctoral work in public health sciences
Doctoral-level scientists (e.g., PhD, DrPH, ScD)
– Must defend your thesis or dissertation before March 31st of fellowship year
– Qualifying degree must have background in public health or one of its related disciplines (e.g., epidemiology, biostatistics, health informatics, health policy and services, behavioral health, environmental or occupational health, injury prevention, or nutritional sciences)
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