The UofM School of Public Health, an ASPPH Member, was Awarded Funds in Support of CDC’s National DIS Certification Project
January 29, 2025 - The University of Memphis School of Public Health has been awarded
funding to advance the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National
Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Certification Project. Implemented by the ASPPH Center for Public Health Workforce Development, the Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) Program supports the CDC’s efforts to enhance public health services by certifying disease
intervention professionals. The School of Public Health project proposal “Partnering
with High School Educators to Build Pathways to Disease Intervention Certification,”
aims to sensitize high school students to public health disease intervention and the
challenges and solutions needed to address them in the 21st century. High schools
throughout the Memphis-Shelby County region are provided academic program offerings,
research collaborations and close gaps in the disease intervention and public health
workforce. The curriculum serves as an educational and work-based learning (WBL) pathway
pipeline for high schoolers within the 11th and 12th grades. Students have the opportunity
to participate in the dual enrollment program offering college courses with the integration
of disease intervention learning modules. At the completion of six courses and other
CDI requirements, students will be eligible to take the certification exam to attain
a Certification in Disease Intervention.
The School of Public Health will perform services and activities for the Association pursuant to the Cooperative Agreement NU50CK000612 “Improving Clinical and Public Health Outcomes Through National Academic Public Health Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease Threats,” awarded to the Association by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.