Building the pipeline: programs to introduce middle school, high school, medical, and veterinary students to careers in epidemiology and public health

Abstract

PurposeThis report describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs that expose students to epidemiology and public health sciences (EPHS). MethodsThe Science Ambassador workshop targets middle and high school teachers and promotes teaching EPHS in the classroom. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event is an extracurricular science competition for middle and high school students based on investigations of outbreaks and other public health problems. The Epidemiology Elective Program provides experiential learning activities for veterinary and medical students. ResultsAs of 2016, 234 teachers from 37 states and territories and three other countries participated in SA workshops. Several are teaching units or entire courses in EPHS. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event exposed approximately 15,000 middle and high school students to EPHS during the 2015–2016 school year. The Epidemiology Elective Program has exposed 1,795 veterinary and medical students to EPHS. ConclusionsStudents can master fundamental concepts of EPHS as early as middle school and educators are finding ways to introduce this material into their classrooms. Programs to introduce veterinary and medical students to EPHS can help fill the gap in exposing older students to the field. Professional organizations can assist by making their members aware of these programs.