Archived
June, 2007 |
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Hispanic Health Program
EPIDEMIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (EIS)
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM?
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The nation has a
growing need for trained epidemiologists to address current public
health problems as well as problems of emerging and reemerging
infectious diseases. |
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Epidemiologists
comprise less than one percent of the total public health workforce.
Minorities, especially Hispanics/Latinos, make-up an even smaller percentage
of this profession. |
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As the Hispanic/Latino
population multiplies and their public health problems worsen, it is
important to increase the number of trained Hispanic/Latino
epidemiologists who can provide assistance to their own populations. |
WHAT HAS CDC
ACCOMPLISHED?
The Epidemic Intelligence
Service (EIS) is a unique two year, post-graduate program of service and
on-the-job training for health professionals interested in epidemiology.
Since 1951, approximately 2,500 EIS Officers --
CDC’s "Disease Detectives" --
have graduated from this program. Seventy officers have been
Hispanic/Latino. In FY 2001, 72 officers graduated from the EIS Program,
nine of whom were Hispanic/Latino. Of the 73 new officers
entering in July 2002, three were Hispanic/Latino. In addition to the on-the-job
training gained by investigation of disease outbreaks, natural and
man-made disasters, and other public health emergencies, the EIS Program
provides formal instruction to EIS Officers through courses in
epidemiology, biostatistics, public health ethics and law, evaluation of
surveillance systems, scientific writing and prevention effectiveness.
Example of program in action: |
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EIS Officers work in a
variety of areas during their assignments, many which involve Hispanic/Latino
health activities, including: an outbreak investigation of syphilis among
Hispanic/Latino males in Decatur, Alabama, an investigation of increased Hispanic/Latino
teen pregnancies in Kansas, and a long term study on "Suicide among
Hispanics, US 1990-99." |
WHAT ARE THE NEXT
STEPS?
The
need for well trained minority epidemiologists, especially
Hispanic/Latino, remains high. In an effort to meet these and future
demands, the EIS Program will work to increase the number of minorities
entering the program and those being assigned to state and local health
departments in future years. This will be done in concert with increased
marketing of the program to the Hispanic Serving Health Professions
Schools.
For more information, contact the Epidemiology
Program Office, Division of Applied Public Health Training, Mailstop
E-92, 1600
Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333:
(404)
498-6110:
http://www.cdc.gov/eis/. |
Back to the Hispanic/Latino Populations Page
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