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:
- Physicians with at least one year of training.
- PhD, DrPH, or other doctoral-degree recipients in health-related
fields such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and the social, behavioral, and
nutrition sciences; and
- Nurses, dentists, and veterinarians with a Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent degree.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting online applications is September 15 for EIS officers entering the class beginning July 1 of the following year.
For further information contact either of the following offices:
Sally Brown
Nurse Epidemiologist
Epidemiology Advisory Committee
Office of the Director
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Denver Federal Center
6th and Kipling
Building 53, Room I-1405
Denver, CO 80225
Phone: (303) 236–5950
Email: SBrown@cdc.gov
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EIS Program
Office of Workforce and Career Development
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, N.E.
MS E-92
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (404) 498-6110
or toll free 1-888-496-8347
E-mail: eisepo@cdc.gov
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