1. Name of activity: Field Epidemiology Training Program for NJ Regional Epidemiologists

2. Project leader and email address: Peter N. Wenger, MD wengerpn@umdnj.edu

3. Brief statement of mission and/or vision:

The FEEP is a continuing education initiative for the NJ regional field epidemiologists to receive training in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical and laboratory aspects of infectious diseases (ID) with emphasis on those pathogens with increased potential for epidemic potential.

4. Collaborators, staff and faculty by name and email: Collaborators, staff and faculty by name and email: Andrea Marcus marcusab@umdnj.edu; William Halperin, MD, DrPH, MPH halperwe@umdnj.edu

5. Specifics about activity:

The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) has established a program in which people with specialized public health training (e.g., MPH, etc.) and experience are hired by county, or in the case of Newark, city health departments as epidemiologists to coordinate local or regional epidemiologic activities (e.g., surveillance, outbreak investigations, etc.) with respect to public health emergency issues, including bio-chemical-radiological terrorist-related incidents and naturally-occurring ID outbreaks. Dr. Wenger is the director of continuing education activities for this group with respect to infectious disease and epidemiology issues. The education program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the NJ Center for Public Health Preparedness (NJCPHP) at UMDNJ. Activities include development of educational materials, as well as didactic sessions and case-study sessions that can be held in different locales around the state. Other activities include a monthly infectious disease rounds conference call and individual consultation concerning ongoing investigations, surveillance issues, or other ID related problems. We are currently working to extend these educational activities to other public health, medical delivery, and first-responder organizations.

6. Publications from project

7. Other related websites http://www.state.nj.us/health ; http://www.njcphp.org/resources/may24conf.htm

8. Opportunities for students:

Those students interested in developing innovative health education programs with respect to public health emergencies are encouraged to contact Dr. Wenger.

9. Opportunities for volunteers: N/A

10. Hidden text and keywords: public health emergencies; field epidemiology; infectious disease outbreaks (or epidemics); bioterrorism

Date revised: 3/30/05