Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121313

Mark McCalman, MPH, Sullivan County Regional Health Department, 154 Blountville Bypass, Blountville, TN 37618, 423-279-7562, mmccalman@sullivanhealth.org, Ami Sklar, MPH, Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department, 804 N. Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305, and Allen Craig, MD, Communicable and Environmental Disease Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 4th Floor, Cordell Hull Building, 425 Fifth Avenue, Nashville, TN 37247.

Background. From 2002-2004, the Tennessee Department of Health significantly expanded its epidemiology workforce in response to the increased threat of bioterrorism. There are now more than 70 individuals functioning as public health epidemiologists in Tennessee.

In 2004, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists urged health departments to periodically assess their epidemiology capacity. Workforce development is a key element to maintaining and improving the nation's public health capacity.

Methods. A survey was developed to assess Tennessee's public health epidemiology workforce and identify workforce development needs. With a response rate of ninety-seven percent (97%), this tool gathered composition, utilization and job satisfaction information from epidemiologists in Tennessee.

Results. Ninety percent of epidemiologists in Tennessee have advanced degrees -- 56% in public health. Ten percent are current or former Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers. Overall, epidemiologists spend 23% of their time conducting surveillance. Top program areas are Emergency Response/Preparedness (13.3 %), Environmental Health (12.5%) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (10.7%). Sixty percent of epidemiologists are very satisfied with their current position. On a scale of 1 to 5 -- with 5 being very important -- job duties (4.5), geographic location (4.2), and work environment (4.1) are the most important factors when seeking a position. Epidemiologists are most satisfied with current job duties and geographic location, and least satisfied with mentoring relationships and advancement opportunities.

Learning Objectives: