What does this research mean for the field?

The Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE) in Germany successfully strengthens and sustains the national public health workforce, with the majority of graduates remaining in the sector, assuming leadership roles, and actively contributing to outbreak management. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Evaluate the contribution of the Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE) to strengthening and sustaining Germany's public health workforce for infection protection over three decades.

September 6, 2026EurosurveillanceOpen Access

Thirty years of an advanced field epidemiology training programme: a mixed-methods evaluation, Germany, 1996 to 2025

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Authors

SBSimon Brinkwirth LSLothar Schneider ISIda Sperle

Discussion

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Overview

Mixed-methods evaluation demonstrates high workforce retention and outbreak response leadership among applied epidemiology graduates, highlighting sustained capacity in infection protection.

Key Points

Evaluate the contribution of the Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE) to strengthening and sustaining Germany's public health workforce for infection protection over three decades.
Conducted a mixed-methods evaluation combining a semi-structured desk review of programme outputs from 1996 to 2025, an online survey of graduates from the 1996–2023 cohorts, and an expert workshop across local, state, and national health authorities.
Analyzed quantitative survey and programme data descriptively alongside qualitative data evaluated via simplified content analysis.
Across 126 graduates through December 2025, recorded programme outputs included 205 outbreak investigations, 197 peer-reviewed publications, and 193 accepted conference abstracts.
Among 91 responding graduates (72% response rate), 70% (64/91) remained in the German public health workforce, 70% (64/91) took roles in crisis and outbreak management, and 59% (54/91) held leadership roles.
High programme satisfaction was reported by 90% (82/91) of survey respondents, 96% (87/91) would recommend the programme, and 86% (78/91) actively engaged in knowledge dissemination.

Cite This Study

Brinkwirth et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9d1e4528139818eab20fef https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.35.2600395

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September 6, 2026EurosurveillanceOpen Access

Thirty years of an advanced field epidemiology training programme: a mixed-methods evaluation, Germany, 1996 to 2025

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SBSimon Brinkwirth LSLothar Schneider ISIda Sperle

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Mixed-methods evaluation demonstrates high workforce retention and outbreak response leadership among applied epidemiology graduates, highlighting sustained capacity in infection protection.

Key Points

Evaluate the contribution of the Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE) to strengthening and sustaining Germany's public health workforce for infection protection over three decades.
Conducted a mixed-methods evaluation combining a semi-structured desk review of programme outputs from 1996 to 2025, an online survey of graduates from the 1996–2023 cohorts, and an expert workshop across local, state, and national health authorities.
Analyzed quantitative survey and programme data descriptively alongside qualitative data evaluated via simplified content analysis.
Across 126 graduates through December 2025, recorded programme outputs included 205 outbreak investigations, 197 peer-reviewed publications, and 193 accepted conference abstracts.
Among 91 responding graduates (72% response rate), 70% (64/91) remained in the German public health workforce, 70% (64/91) took roles in crisis and outbreak management, and 59% (54/91) held leadership roles.
High programme satisfaction was reported by 90% (82/91) of survey respondents, 96% (87/91) would recommend the programme, and 86% (78/91) actively engaged in knowledge dissemination.

Cite This Study

Brinkwirth et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9d1e4528139818eab20fef https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.35.2600395

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark