Assessment of epidemiologic capacity in state and territorial health departments—United States, 2004

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 13, 2005 by M.L. Boulton, J. Abellera, J. Lemmings, L. Robinson

TABLE. Number * and percentage of epidemiologists in state
and territorial health departments, by academic degree ([dagger]) and
estimated departmental need, by academic degree--United
States, 2004

                                              Estimated need

Academic degree           No.        (%)       No.      (%)

Doctoral degree            660      (25.6)    1,159    (30.6)
Master's degree          1,078      (41.8)    1,682    (44.4)
Bachelor's degree          599      (23.2)      784    (20.7)
Associate degree or
  high school diploma      130       (5.0)      167     (4.4)

Total                    2,580 *              3,790

* Includes 113 epidemiologists for whom academic degree was not
ascertained.

([dagger]) Academic degree might be in areas other than epidemiology or
public health.

* The 2004 CSTE epidemiology capacity assessment determined that 2,580 epidemiologists were working in state and territorial health departments compared with 1,366 in 2001, an increase of 89%. However, the number and percentage of states and territories responding to the 2004 survey were substantially higher than in 2001 (54 [91.5%] versus 44 [78.6%]) (I). Comparing only the District of Columbia and 38 states that participated in both surveys, the increase in epidemiologists was 343 (26.9%).

([dagger]) The definition of epidemiologist was from A Dictionary of Epidemiology (6). For the 2004 CSTE survey, epidcmiologists in state and territorial health departments were defined as any persons who performed functions consistent with this definition, regardless of job title.

([section]) The six-point scale was as follows: Full = 100%, almost full = 75%-99%, substantial = 50% 74%, partial = 25%-49%, minimal = <25%, and none = 0. The four-point scale was as follows: Full/almost full = 75%-100%, substantial = 50%-74%, partial 25%-49%, and minimal or no capacity <25%.

References

(1.) Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. National assessment of epidemiologic capacity in public health: findings and recommendations. Atlanta, GA: Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; 2003. Available at http://www.cste.org/pdffiles/ecacover1.pdf.> (2.) CDC. Assessment of the epidemiologic capacity in state and territorial health departments--United States, 2001. MMWR 2003; 52:1049-51.

(3.) US Department of Health and Human Services. Bioterror funding provides blueprint to build a strong new public health infrastructure. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2002. Available at http://www.hhs.govlnews/press/2002pres/20020125.html.> (4.) Public Health Functions Steering Committee. Public health in America: the essential public health services. Washington, DC: US Public Health Service, Public Health Functions Steering Committee; 1995. Available at http://www.health.gov/phfunctions/public.htm.> (5.) Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. 2004 national assessment of epidemiologic capacity: findings and recommendations. Atlanta, GA: Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; 2004. Available at http://www.cste.org/assessment/eca/pdffileslecafinal05.pdf.>