Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program

Through the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program of the CDC, NIOSH trains health professionals in the principles and practice of occupational safety and health. During their two-year experience, NIOSH EIS officers will not only gain knowledge of occupational safety and health, but will also gain unique expertise in applied occupational epidemiology.

What do EIS officers do at NIOSH?

Examples of previous investigations conducted by NIOSH EIS officers include: peripheral neuropathy in workers exposed to a newly introduced industrial chemical; clusters of retinal detachment in welders; outbreaks of dermatitis in tanners and chemical workers; lung cancer among tire manufacturers; acute and chronic respiratory diseases associated with exposure to various agents including asbestos, silica, isocyanates, egg protein, and proteolytic enzymes; musculoskeletal disorders of meatpackers, grocery store clerks, and video display terminal operators; tuberculosis among health care workers; electrocutions associated with hurricane damage; and health effects from dioxin exposure in the herbicide formulating industry. Through the field collection and subsequent analysis of data from workers with occupational injury and disease problems, NIOSH EIS officers can become familiar with such facets of occupational health as: (1) the design of epidemiologic investigations; (2) the principles of industrial safety, hygiene, and ergonomics; (3) the methodologic approaches used for integrating industrial hygiene and medical data in dose-response analyses; and (4) the techniques used for classifying chest x-rays for pneumoconiosis, for performing pulmonary function tests, for conducting standardized neurobehavioral tests, and for conducting genotoxicity and biomarker tests. The EIS officers' individual experiences are supplemented through short courses in occupational health, weekly seminars, and informal tutorials.

What assignments are available at NIOSH?

EIS officers interested in a NIOSH experience may choose among assignments in Anchorage, Alaska, Morgantown, West Virginia, or Cincinnati, Ohio. EIS officers in Morgantown commonly develop professional contacts and gain clinical experience participating as adjunct faculty in occupational medicine, pulmonary medicine, or community medicine activities at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, which is adjacent to the NIOSH laboratory. EIS officers in Cincinnati have developed professional relationships with the staff at the University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health of the College of Medicine and other departments. EIS positions offered by NIOSH may vary from year to year, depending on specific circumstances.

The Relationship of the NIOSH EIS program to the EIS program at CDC

EIS officers assigned to NIOSH are a part of the CDC's EIS program and participate fully in all EIS activities, including the annual EIS Conference held in Atlanta each spring. As EIS officers, NIOSH assignees may be asked to participate in emergency investigations of disease outbreaks in the United States and throughout the world. All EIS officers begin their fellowship by attending a three-week introductory course in epidemiology and statistics held in Atlanta during July.

What Are the Eligibility Criterion?

Health professionals who meet one of the following qualifications, and have a strong interest in applied epidemiology, are eligible to apply to the CDC EIS Fellowship Program:

1. Physicians with at least one year of training.
2. PhD, DrPH, or other doctoral-degree recipients in health-related fields such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and the social, behavioral, and nutrition sciences; and
3. Nurses, dentists, and veterinarians with a Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent degree.

Application Deadline

Applications must be postmarked by September 15 for EIS officers entering the class beginning July 1 of the following year.

For further information contact either of the following offices: