Retrospective Evaluation of Contributions From CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service Graduates to the US Public Health Workforce—2011–2024

CONTEXT: Preparedness and response to emerging public health threats requires a well-trained workforce in epidemiology. PROGRAM: Established in 1951, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is a 2-year, competency-based fellowship in applied epidemiology. We sought to more fully understand and describe recent graduates' contributions to the public health workforce in the United States. IMPLEMENTATION: We conducted annual exit surveys among EIS officers ≤30 days before fellowship completion, collecting data regarding graduates' initial post-EIS employment. We defined US public health workforce positions as those at CDC, another Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agency, or a US state, tribal, local, or territorial health agency. EVALUATION: During 2011-2024, 1056 EIS officers completed the fellowship, and 908 (86%) reported post-EIS positions. Among these, 744 (82%) reported post-EIS positions in the US public health workforce. The positions included 662 (73%) positions or additional training at CDC, 64 (7%) at a state, tribal, local, or territorial health agency, and 18 (2%) at other HHS agencies. The remaining 164 (18%) reported positions with other employers, including non-HHS government agencies, clinical settings, academia, and training or educational programs. Postfellowship positions were stratified by selected officer characteristics (class year, assignment type, professional category, hiring mechanism, and US citizenship and residency). For example, 89% (323/363) of scientists compared with 77% (421/545) of clinicians joined the US public health workforce. Regardless of whether officers joined the US public health workforce, 98% (458/467) self-reported that their postfellowship position would be in public health (during 2017-2024). DISCUSSION: Post-EIS, most officers obtained positions in the US public health workforce. Almost all said their new position focused on public health and applied epidemiology. Ongoing evaluation of public health training programs should include assessment of postfellowship positions to characterize and ensure short- and long-term contributions to the public health workforce.