The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently highlighted the first response role of career epidemiology field officers (CEFOs) in the event of a viral outbreak of pandemic.
The CEFO program was instituted by the CDC in 2002 as a response to Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and the anthrax crisis. CEFOs serve to increase the level of effective public health surveillance, epidemiology and response efforts. CEFOs work to bring policy from the national level at the CDC to many local level agencies across the United States. The role of a CEFO officer can vary from state to state, depending on the expertise of the local agency and the CEFO themselves.
A key trait in an effective CEFO is the ability to effectively decipher the meaning behind data that may not be apparent at first glance, while also being able to rapidly adapt and respond proactively to evolving circumstances. A CEFO is not a regular position, and an effective one can come from a number of different backgrounds, including physicians, scientists, nurses or other health services sectors.
In order to become a CEFO, a candidate must complete the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence service or have a similar amount of field experience in epidemiology.