CDC Health Communication Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
CDC Office and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the Associate Director for Communication (ADC) Office, within the Office of Associate Director (OAD), at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operation components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish its mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.
ATSDR protects communities from harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and man-made hazardous substances. We do this by responding to environmental health emergencies; investigating emerging environmental health treats; conducting research on the health impacts of hazardous waste sites; and building the capabilities of and providing actionable guidance to state and local health partners. The participant will gain experience in the ADC office in OAD and with the three offices within ATSDR: Office of Innovation and Analytics (OIA); Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment (OCHHA); and Office of Capacity Development and Applied Prevention Science (OCDAPS).
Research Project: The selected participant will have the opportunity to interact closely with public health program professionals in various roles and to be involved in diverse activities, including:
- Supporting the Office of Associate Director communication activities by researching, gathering, compiling, and developing content
- Aiding in the development of key messages, talking points, social media messages, and CDC-Info responses, as well as communication materials such as blog posts, web pages, newsletter content, infographics, fact sheets, communication/roll-out plans, program briefings, program summaries, and power point presentations
- Conducting communication research, literature or health communication scans, and if needed, environmental justice scans
- Participating in drafting materials and messages for dissemination through a variety of communication channels
- Providing assistance to internal and external groups on health communication and marketing of program priorities
If needed, the fellow may be requested to travel and contribute to training at conferences or any of the 10 ATSDR Regional Offices.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn to how conduct the following communication activities:
- Translate scientific information into public-facing content
- Communicate health information to various audiences, including consumers, healthcare providers, partners, grantees/recipients
- Develop communication materials for multiple channels
- Evaluate the reach of communication products and strategies to determine their effectiveness
Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Loretta Asbury (lob3@cdc.gov) and Laura Bellinger (wpg3@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 2021. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.CDC.ATSDR@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.