CDC Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute (EPHLI)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute (EPHLI) is a 1-year program of seminars and workshops, special projects, and individual study. Each year, approximately 30 practicing environmental public health professionals are admitted to the program. CDC will pay all allowable and approved costs associated with participation in the institute.

3/1/2011 Graduation Agenda (Class of 2010-2011) [PDF - 422 KB]

EPHLI Fact Sheet [PDF - 292 KB]

Training Environmental Public Health Leaders [PDF - 95 KB] – Local EH practitioners are essential in protecting the public health from environmental threats. Read more about how EPHLI fellows applied systems thinking to solve environmental public health problems in their jurisdictions.

Why EPHLI?

The institute was developed to strengthen the country’s environmental public health system by enhancing the leadership capabilities of state and local environmental public health specialists. Emphasis is placed on

enhancing strategic visioning and direction-setting skills through critical thinking and analysis (systems thinking), political effectiveness, and organizational and team development;
using the core functions of public health as a foundation for achieving environmental public health goals;
creating proactive environmental public health leaders who can mobilize resources in response to the changing public health environment (core competencies);
enhancing the performance outcomes of the essential services of environmental public health; and
promoting and improving the delivery of environmental public health services to communities.

How Does EPHLI Strengthen These Programs?

EPHLI graduates use what they have learned to increase the ability of their environmental public health programs to provide essential environmental public health services. These state, local, and tribal programs will be better able to respond to emerging environmental public health threats and coordinate the delivery of effective services to areas affected by environmental disasters.

What Have Past Graduates Done?

In February 2006, the first group of EPHLI scholars completed the program. Thirty-two scholars from across the United States prepared final reports for presentations or posters at graduation.

Final reports from these and subsequent scholars address the following CDC Health Protection Goals of Healthy People in Healthy Places: Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes, Healthy Schools, Healthy Travel and Recreation, and People Prepared for Emerging Health Threats.

What Is the Time Commitment?

Fellows attend two in-person working sessions and a concluding graduation program where systems thinking projects are presented. Participants in the 1-year program should plan to spend several hours per week working on their project, completing homework assignments, and actively participating in team conference calls and scheduled intersession meetings.

Tentative program sessions for the class of 2011-2012 are

February 28-March 4, 2011 (CDC, Atlanta: attend presentations and graduation of previous class and participate in first session for incoming class): Sample Graduation Agenda [PDF - 175 KB]
October 17–21, 2011 (St. Louis, MO)
February 27–March 2, 2012 (CDC, Atlanta: presentations and graduation)

How Can I Sign Up for EPHLI?

(Applications are not being accepted at this time. Please revisit this site for updates on applications procedures, new application dates, and program announcements.)