About the EIS Alumni Association

Our history

The Epidemic Intelligence Service Alumni Association (EISAA) was established in the mid-1960s by a group of alumni (John C. Greene, D.M.D., M.P.H., EIS ’56; Donald A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., EIS ’55; Neal Nathanson, M.D., EIS ’55; Robert W. Sappenfield, M.D., EIS ’51; Paul F. Wehrle, M.D., EIS ’51) that realized early on the importance of fostering a sense of loyalty to the EIS Program. The Association now represents nearly 3,500 alumni working on the front lines at local, state, federal, and global levels to prevent disease and advance public health. The mission of EISAA is to foster and sustain a sense of collegiality among its members and to promote the welfare of the EIS Program. In recent years, the EISAA has revitalized to strengthen its membership base, enhance networking and alumni communications, and support the EIS Program’s role as the premier public health training program in the world.

Our commitment to the alumni network

Every day, EIS alumni make substantial contributions in advancing health through work in various sectors, including public health, medicine, academia, health policy, and industry. EISAA recognizes the importance of enhancing communication and building camaraderie among such a talented, diverse group of professionals. Thanks to a grant from the de Beaumont Foundation, EISAA recently launched this website and secure alumni portal to allow EIS alumni and current EIS Officers to connect with one another based on geographic location or area of interest. The searchable database and improved communication infrastructure will provide a platform for alumni to connect, exchange stories and ideas, explore job opportunities, and advocate for important public health issues. EISAA also sponsors numerous events to facilitate networking between alumni and Officers throughout the year, including events at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Annual Conference, American Public Health Association (APHA) Meeting, and the annual EIS Conference.

Our commitment to the EIS Program

Alumni play a critical role in carrying out treasured EIS traditions and training the next generation of EIS Officers. We are proud to engage in broader recruitment efforts for the EIS Program by supporting the development of new recruitment materials, sponsoring regional recruitment events, and utilizing our diverse alumni pool to speak at local residencies, academic institutions, and national conferences.EISAA also supports several prestigious awards at EIS conference, including the Alexander D. Langmuir Prize, named in honor of the beloved founder of the EIS Program and awarded to an outstanding manuscript completed during EIS; the Distinguished Friend of EIS Award honoring an individual recognized for his or her valued contributions that have made an important difference to the health, welfare and happiness of EIS Officers and the EIS Program; the Donald C. Mackel Memorial Award recognizing the EIS investigation that best exemplifies collaborative work between epidemiology and laboratory science; the J. Virgil Peavy Memorial Award, named in honor of a distinguished CDC statistician and EIS mentor and recognizing the investigation that most effectively uses innovative statistical and epidemiologic methods; and the Stephen B. Thacker Excellence in Mentoring Award, initiated in 2013 in honor of Dr. Steven B. Thacker, an inspirational leader who championed the EIS Program and its Officers throughout his career, awarded to an individual who is an inspiration to the EIS community and exhibits unwavering commitment to the EIS Program, officers, and alumni through demonstrated excellence in applied epidemiology training, mentoring, and building public health capacity. Each year, EISAA also provides competitive travel scholarships for prospective applicants to attend the EIS Conference through the David J. Sencer Scholarships.

Our structure and governance

EISAA is governed by a set of bylaws that define our mission, voting procedures, and membership dues structure. Membership is open to all alumni who successfully complete the EIS program. Our activities are led throughout the year by a ten-member Executive Committee, which includes seven elected alumni members and three ex-officio, non-voting members who represent the CDC Foundation and EIS Program. Each year, online elections are held to elect two alumni (one CDC employee; one non-CDC employee) to serve a three-year term on the Executive Committee. The EISAA officers (President and Secretary/Treasurer) are elected among Executive Committee member at the EISAA Annual Meeting at EIS Conference in Atlanta, GA.

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