What State Epidemiologists Do

At a glance

CDC's State Chronic Disease Epidemiologists help state public health agencies strengthen and advance their chronic disease epidemiology programs through data collection, mentoring, and partnerships.

Three epidemiologists in front of a microscope with data charts and graphs superimposed over the image.

Steps we take

CDC invests in states to build chronic disease epidemiology capacity by assigning them a CDC chronic disease epidemiologist to assist in the following areas:1

Epidemiology and Data Collection

  • Provide epidemiological assistance to the state public health agency, local public health agencies, and partners.
  • Consult with chronic disease program managers about using data to target prevention efforts and develop strategies for strengthening those efforts.
  • Enhance data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.2
  • Develop and implement chronic disease surveillance and evaluation plans.
  • Contribute to the development of chronic disease and related state plans.
  • Provide technical assistance in writing chronic disease-related grant applications, cooperative agreements, and requests for proposals.
  • Make presentations at national and local conferences.
  • Publish state reports and articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Mentoring

  • Mentor, develop resources for, and conduct trainings for state and local chronic disease program staff to strengthen capacity and enhance data usage.
  • Serve as a mentor for student interns, fellows, and preventive medicine residents.

Partnerships

  • Ensure collaboration across chronic disease programs.
  • Build partnerships with other agencies and stakeholders across multiple sectors to increase data sharing and usage.
  • Participate in Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists subcommittees.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
  1. Calanan RM, Sandoval-Rosario M, Price JD, Samanic CM, Lu H, Barbour KE. Achieving excellence in the practice of chronic disease epidemiology. Prev Chronic Dis. 2018;15:E146. doi:10.5888/pcd15.180526
  2. Duffy RE, Siegel, PZ. Increasing chronic disease epidemiology capacity without increasing workforce: a success story in Ohio. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2009;15(2):123-6. doi:10.1097/01.PHH.0000346009.51651.c5