1. Marissa Alexander-Scott University of Illinois at Springfield 2012
Training Programs: James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship and RISE Program
Marissa Alexander-Scott
University of Illinois at Springfield
2012

2. Internships and Fellowships are key
More important than ever before in order to be truly competitive for jobs after graduation
Application of skills learned in class to real-world public health issues
Exposure to key public health officials prior to graduation
Gain lifelong friendships with others interested in “making a difference”

3. Two Fellowship programs
RISE program for undergraduates
Dr. James A Ferguson Emerging Infectious Disease Fellowship for graduate students

4. Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (MCHC/RISE-UP)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded 10 week summer program
Research opportunity focusing on health disparities and health equity promotion
Under-represented students strongly encouraged to apply, but anyone who wants to eliminate health disparities will be considered
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded10-week summer program
The Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (MCHC/RISE-UP) Program provides opportunities for enhanced public health and related training to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity. MCHC/RISE-UP grant funding was awarded to Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a national consortium of Institutions and Universities built on the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training framework and the previous CDC-funded RISE grant. Through this program, university partners from across the nation will offer learning opportunities for students. This program's ultimate goal is to promote a more diversified and equal health system by introducing highly qualified undergraduate students (junior sand, seniors with a GPA 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale; and students who received their baccalaureate degree within 12 months of MCHC/RISE-UP program orientation) from underrepresented groups to the field of public health. All students interested in addressing health disparities are encouraged to apply.

5. RISE details Program starts May 27th, 2013- August 2nd, 2013
Students travel to Johns Hopkins University for orientation the first week
Nine weeks spent at training sites
Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University
University of South Dakota
University of Southern California
Closing ceremony is at Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta

6. RISE Leadership Experiences
Students select 1-2 experiences from 3 choices
Clinical/Community- hospital and clinic opportunities (pediatrics, nursing, psychology, special education, etc.) Also community-based health care to underserved

7. RISE Leadership Experience
Community Engagement and Advocacy- formation, implementation, evaluation of health care and disability policy and practice guidelines
Research- training in community-based prevention, treatment, and epidemiological studies

8. RISE Perks $ 3500 Stipend Housing and travel costs paid*
Opportunity to live and work in different parts of the country different from Illinois
Meet public health professionals and key leaders from academia, state, and federal
MCAT/GRE test preparation
Possible publication opportunities
* Subject to CDC funding

9. RISE Requirements and Deadlines
Must have 2.5 or better GPA on 4.0 scale
Must be a rising junior, junior, or senior OR recent graduate (up to 12 months of program orientation)
2 Letters of recommendation- one should be from professor or department chair
CV/Resume
Completion of Essays and Interest Questions
Transcripts- Official
Application due February 14, 2013

10. Dr. James A. Ferguson Fellowship
CDC funded
9 weeks
Choice of working at CDC Atlanta or at Johns Hopkins
Work on projects relating to health disparities
Epidemiology
Laboratory science
Public health policy
Public health education

11. “Fergie” Perks $4,000 stipend Housing on Emory campus
Round-trip travel for people living outside of Georgia
Sponsorship to attend a national scientific meeting following abstract submission
Sponsored membership in the American Public Health Association (APHA) .
Sponsorship to attend a national scientific meeting following abstract submission
Sponsored membership in the American Public Health Association (APHA)

12. Requirements
Must be a full-time student in a medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, or public health graduate program
Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Must be able to commit to the length of the entire fellowship (May 27, 2013 to July 26, 2013)
Letters of recommendation, CV/Resume, Essays, Transcripts
Deadline February 14, 2013

13. My experience
Spent the first week in orientation at Johns Hopkins University/Kennedy Krieger Institute

14. If you have seen the film “Something the Lord Made”……

15. RISE and Ferguson at Johns Hopkins

16. CDC Atlanta I worked in the building next to this one
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

17. My Project Systematic review
Influenza co-infections in African countries
Presented information on malaria and influenza at CDC symposium
Currently writing article on other co-infections: tuberculosis, dengue, etc

18. Influenza and Malaria Co-infections: A Systematic Review
Marissa Alexander-Scott, DVM, MS, MPH (c)
Dr. James A. Ferguson Fellow 2012
University of Illinois at Springfield
Ferguson Fellow Presentation Review
07/26/2012
National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases
International Epidemiology and Response Team

19. Meeting Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC Director

20. Fun side trips in Atlanta

21. What’s Next? Definitely want to work at CDC
Applied to Epidemic Intelligence Service- learn my fate in December
Other programs of interest
ORISE- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
CSTE-Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Pathways Recent Graduates Program

22. Any Questions? Feel free to contact me at my UIS email mscot3@uis.edu
I hope you choose to apply for these and other experiences!
Good luck in your studies!