COVID-19 Response Roles among CDC International Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship Graduates

Abstract

Since 2013, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered the Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship to health professionals from around the world. The goal of this program is to build an international workforce to establish public health emergency management programs and operations centers in participating countries. In March 2021, all 141 graduates of the fellowship program were invited to complete a web survey designed to examine their job roles and functions, assess their contributions to their country's COVID-19 response, and identify needs for technical assistance to strengthen national preparedness and response systems. Of 141 fellows, 89 successfully completed the survey. Findings showed that fellowship graduates served key roles in COVID-19 response in many countries, used skills they gained from the fellowship, and desired continuing engagement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and fellowship alumni to strengthen the community of practice for international public health emergency management.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; capacity development; emergency management; emergency response; global health security agenda; global public health; respiratory infections; workforce development; zoonoses.

Figure

Flowchart illustrating overall summary of survey responses from graduates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PHEM Fellowship program contacted during April 2021. A total of 141 fellows representing 36 countries worldwide have completed the program in 12 semiannual cohorts conducted during August 2013–May 2020. PHEM, Public Health Emergency Management.