Epidemiology Elective Program is a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that funds a 6 to 8 week applied epidemiology training rotation for senior medical and veterinary school students. The program places students at CDC to gain hands-on public health experience, with participants selecting rotation periods and topic areas of interest.

Requirements include two recommendation forms, an Academic Endorsement from the student affairs office, and a written essay addressing public health career motivation and prior intercultural experiences. At least one recommender must be a faculty member at the applicant's medical or veterinary school. Eligible applicants are senior medical or veterinary school students in the United States.

The application deadline is May 5, 2026, with selection notifications expected by June 30, 2026.

Prepare & Submit Student Application | Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) | CDC Skip directly to site content Prepare & Submit Student Application The student application period is open through May 5, 2026. Applicants should begin preparing information early to submit the application by the deadline. Detailed instructions are provided as a guide to gathering and preparing required information and for submitting the online application.

Review eligibility and requirements. Identify which set rotation periods you can participate in. Consider your topic or subject area interests, project interests, work status, and location preferences.

Have the following information ready for application prompts: contact information; undergraduate and graduate education; post graduate training and skills; work and volunteer experience; publications, presentations, grants, and honors and awards. Prepare answers to the following questions, What influenced you to consider a career in public health service? Describe how this program will help you achieve your goals.

Describe a time you worked with a person or community different from your own and the insight it gave you into others' perspectives. Reflect on how this shifted your own thinking. For reapplicants: When did you apply and what has changed since your last application?

Identify two people to complete the recommendation form on your behalf, following the guidelines in the next section. At least one of your recommenders must be a faculty member at your medical or veterinary school. Obtain a signed Academic Endorsement from the student affairs office at your medical or veterinary school following the guidelines in the next section.

Two recommendation forms are required. Please do not submit more than two recommendation writers' names into the application system . Select people who are familiar with your academic achievements, aspirations, personal qualities, and professional attributes and who have worked with you in the last two years.

Keep in mind that recommendation writers will be completing a form and not uploading their own recommendation letter. At least one recommendation writer must be a faculty member of your current medical or veterinary school. Provide recommendation writers with the Instructions for Recommendation Writers .

Download the Academic Endorsement . Have the form completed and signed by the student affairs office at your medical or veterinary school. Upload within the online application by the deadline.

Complete the online application Access the online application . Create an applicant profile. Complete all sections of the online application.

Upload your signed Academic Endorsement file . Enter email addresses for the two people who will complete the recommendation form. One of the recommendations must come from a faculty member at your medical or veterinary school.

Confirm that recommendation writers receive the system-generated email. Follow-up to ensure recommendation writers complete the form by the deadline. You may save your online application and return to it later.

All online applications must be submitted before the deadline. Submit after completing the online application form and uploading all required materials. You cannot make changes after submitting your application except to update contact information.

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. You will be notified about your selection status by approximately June 30, 2026.

Steps to Apply to the Epidemiology Elective Program Check Eligibility and Requirements Prepare & Submit Participant Application Public Health Infrastructure Center ; Division of Workforce Development Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) The Epidemiology Elective is a 6 - 8 week training program in applied epidemiology for senior medical and veterinary students sponsored by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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