About the Epidemic Intelligence Service

Key points

  • The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is CDC’s globally recognized applied epidemiology training program.
  • Established in 1951, EIS has trained over 4,000 disease detectives who have investigated and responded to a wide range of public health challenges and emergencies.

Overview

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EIS offers an unparalleled service and learning program. EIS officers are CDC's disease detectives who learn from and work alongside subject matter experts while providing service to domestic and international partners. EIS maintains its core focus on training disease detectives to practice consequential epidemiology, which is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data for evidence-based public health action.

EIS was among the first programs to be accredited by the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), the global network for field epidemiology training programs (FETPs), during their first accreditation cycle in 2016. During the 2023 reaccreditation cycle, EIS achieved reaccreditation at a new and higher level, earning distinction in all standards and merit in all thematic areas.

EIS will continue preparing generations of public health leaders for years to come. The EIS program plays a critical role in strengthening the public health workforce. We are focused on preparing a workforce that is ready to face existing and emerging public health threats. For both EIS officers and our staff, we are committed to attracting and recruiting highly trained and service-oriented applicants from a variety of disciplines, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Did You Know?

Pair of worn boots from the 1960s.
Worn out shoe leather with a prominent hole worn through has been a recurring visual theme of EIS through the decades, a reference to the practice of EIS officers personally investigating disease outbreaks at the local population level, in all parts ...

Timeline

Milestone Investigations

EIS has a 73-year history of success in training disease detectives. EIS officers step up at a moment's notice to investigate public health threats in the United States and around the world. From the Smallpox Eradication Program in the 1960's to the COVID-19 pandemic, EIS officers are called on to protect people and save lives.

1951 through 2019. Polio(1955), Smallpox(1966), Legionnaires Disease(1976), Ebola(1976), Asprin (1978), HIV/AIDS (1981), E.coli(1993), Anthrax (2001), SARS (2003), Ebola (2014), HIV/Hepatits (2015), Zika (2016), Coronavirus (2019)..
Investigating and responding to public health threats since 1951

Preparedness

EIS has changed all elements of their program to be better prepared to respond and serve

The EIS program constantly evolves as the field of epidemiology, the science of learning and communication, and the needs of CDC and state and local health departments change over time. With most EIS officers remaining in public health positions after the fellowship, the EIS program is uniquely positioned to have an impact on public health.

We recognize this opportunity and accept the responsibility to recruit, select, and train EIS officers and program staff from a breadth of backgrounds who are well prepared to respond to existing and emerging public health threats. The following describes some examples of how we do this as a program:

Recruitment

  • Host a series of webinars that is available for all interested applicants about the EIS experience and the EIS application process
  • Host virtual participation opportunities for EIS conference attendees to learn about the program
  • Work with partners to increase awareness of the program.

Selection

  • Hold virtual interviews to reduce barriers for applicants to participate across geographic locations
  • Invite Selection Advisors (from outside of the EIS program) to review and participate in the fellowship selection process; this promotes transparency and ensures that the process is standardized and fair
  • Train staff involved as application reviewers and interviewers to ensure a standardized and fair process

Training

  • Facilitate trainings for EIS officers based on best practices for addressing all factors that influence health outcomes
  • Require programs that host EIS officers (or host sites) to describe how projects would consider all factors that influence health outcomes

Reports

Photo collage of EIS officers at work with banner text "Epidemic Intelligence Service 2023 Annual Update"
2023 EIS Annual Update

The Epidemic Intelligence Service 2023 Annual Update features recent program highlights, response work summaries, EIS class demographics, and more. See previous annual reports on the archived page.

Historically Significant Publications