Team Epi-Aid for Students

What's in it for you?

Beyond gaining practical public health experience, Team Epi-Aid also provides you with the opportunity to network with officials at the CDC, and state and local health departments. Some of these contacts could lead to future internships or jobs. Occasionally you will have the opportunity to publish papers or access data for research projects. But most importantly, it's a way to better understand what applied public health is all about.

As a special incentive, each year the most involved and dedicated Team Epi-Aid volunteer will be able to attend the annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference. The winner of this award will be chosen in early March 2010 based on number of hours volunteered. This year's EIS Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA in April 2010; for more information, visit the EIS Conference Web site.

How Team Epi-Aid Works

Students learn about Team Epi-Aid opportunities through our listserv. Emails describing the opportunities are as specific as possible. We tell you how much time is required, any specific skills needed and what type of project it is. We'll also let you know whether there's any travel involved. If a project is of interest you are encouraged to participate. If not, pass it on to a friend or simply delete the email request. There is no time obligation to participate in Team Epi-Aid--participate when you want to for as many activities as you can.

Training

Training is provided through a variety of mechanisms. First, there are several online trainings recommended to Team Epi-Aid volunteers. These trainings provide an overview of outbreak investigations and surveillance in North Carolina. There is a required training, which provides information on privacy, confidentiality and informed consent. This training may also be required by your department within the School of Public Health. A list of recommended trainings can be found below.

In addition to the online training, there is training specific to the activity Team Epi-Aid has been asked to assist with. When serving as interviewers, either for outbreak investigations, community health assessments or as part of a hurricane response, training on how to properly conduct the interview is provided. If working on data entry or analysis projects, a state or local health department employee will provide instruction.

Lastly, Team Epi-Aid students are invited to attend face-to-face trainings held at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Every semester we offer training in the Epi Info software. This is a popular hands-on training that provides an opportunity to become familiar with this widely-used software package. Additional trainings on questionnaire design, interviewer techniques or steps undertaken in an outbreak investigation may also be provided during the semester.

Required Training

All of the following trainings are available online.

• Course in the Protection of Human Research Subjects
  Please complete the following modules, all found in Group 2: Social and Behavioral Research:
  • Informed Consent
  • Privacy and Confidentiality
  • Research With Protected Populations - Vulnerable Subjects: An Overview
  • HIPAA and Research at UNC-Chapel Hill
• Embarking on an Outbreak Investigation
• Anatomy of Foodborne Outbreaks
  

Optional Training

• Communicable Disease Surveillance in North Carolina
• Investigating Outbreaks of Psychogenic Illness
• Botulism in Argentina: Interactive Case Study

How to Join

If you are interested in joining Team Epi-Aid, download and return the form below to Meredith Davis via campus mail (CB #8165), fax (843-5563), or email (tea@unc.edu).

Download New Member Form (Microsoft Word)