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.

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, several online trainings are recommended for Team Epi-Aid volunteers that provide an overview of outbreak investigations and surveillance in North Carolina and present information on privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. These trainings are listed below.

• Course in the Protection of Human Research Subjects
  Complete the following modules 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
  
• Communicable Disease Surveillance in North Carolina
• Investigating Outbreaks of Psychogenic Illness
• Botulism in Argentina: Online Case Study

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.

How to Join

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

Download New Member Form (Microsoft Word)