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Working for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention

One of the dominant topics in the news these days is that the Ebola virus has come to the shores of America. Have you ever wondered how our country is protected from pandemics and other diseases? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is our frontline of defense against the spread of infectious diseases and they employ 10,222 workers with the majority located in Georgia. They also have offices in most states and overseas. There are employment opportunities available in the medical profession, natural and physical sciences, and most support occupations if you would like to work for this agency.

History

The CDC celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2006. This agency is part of the The Department of Health and Human Services. On July 1, 1946, the CDC was originally called the Communicable Disease Center and still today is located in Atlanta, GA.

Malaria was a major health issue in the United States in the 1940’s. The CDC’s primary goal early on, was to help prevent and eradicate the spreading of this disease. The CDC only had a $10 million dollar budget in 1946. They were able to procure trucks, sprayers and other equipment to control the mosquito population.

Over time, the CDC has become the premiere health organization for the education and prevention of diseases and they assist other agencies to control outbreaks. Globally, the CDC is considered the leading authority in public health issues.

Inside the Agency

According to the CDC, its mission is “to work 24/7 to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.” (See more at this CDC link works 24/7).

This agency is responsible for conducting research, the investigation of infectious and chronic diseases, and in stopping bioterrorism. The CDC further states, “The CDC is now focusing on becoming a more efficient and impactful agency by focusing on five strategic areas: supporting state and local health departments, improving global health, implementing measures to decrease leading causes of death, strengthening surveillance and epidemiology, and reforming health policies.”
The CDC has personnel in over 25 countries to help in international disease prevention. Currently, to stop the further spreading of Ebola, the CDC has personnel in Africa and President Obama authorized the deployment of 3,000 U.S. troops to provide medical supplies, protective equipment, educate health workers, deploy mobile labs, and provide logistical support. For more information, read the White House press release on this subject.

Exciting Job Categories

The CDC has many exciting career opportunities from a variety of professions. These include scientists, healthcare workers, business, medical, and academia. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for any jobs in the CDC.

Medical Officers

Medical Officer Series, GS-0602 requires,” Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degrees from a school in the United States or Canada approved by a recognized accrediting body in the year of the applicant’s graduation”.

Education requires Graduate Training,” Subsequent to obtaining a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree, a candidate must have had at least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting, i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in an institution accredited for such training.”

The salary range for a GS-12/15 is $71,674 to $129,674 per year. You can work in the headquarters in Atlanta, GA or where needed overseas. You also will need to have knowledge of public health and medical programs, knowledge and theories, principles, practices and objectives of disease and be able to analyze data from studies and projects.

• Medical Officer Job Listings

Public Health Program Specialist Jobs

The Public Health Program Specialist jobs series is GS-0685.
Some of the specific jobs include a Public Health Analyst GS-0685-09/09 with a salary range from $50,077 to $65,097/Per Year. The candidate needs to have knowledge of the functions and be involved in the operations of a health organization and other public health programs. They also must understand the principles, practices, methodologies, and techniques in representing a health program.
A Public Health Analyst (Issues Management) A GS-0685-12/13 salary range is $72,620 to $112,261/Per Year. They must understand how to develop, initiate, and provide information to various units in public health activities. They should be able to provide senior leadership and develop programs, do analysis, formulate answers to Congressional requests and understand the mission of the CDC and public health activities.

• Public Health Analyst Job Listings

Finally, other non-medical, technical, and administrative professional positions are available at the CDC.

The Future of the CDC

The CDC will always have critical issues such as Ebola and pandemics to evaluate and deal with globally. This agency is committed to protecting the public through health security initiates; cutting-edge technology, medical research, global initiatives, tracking of diseases, and reaching out to the appropriate agencies or other public health organizations when required.

The CDC’s mission states they work 24/7, Saving Lives, Protecting People.

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The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

About The Author

A Pennsylvania native, Betty Boyd moved to the Tennessee Valley in 1994. She retired in early 2012 after 30 years of Government service. Boyd was an Acquisition Manager/IT Manager/ Project Manager during her 30-year career. Boyd also served as a supervisor and team leader during her career. In 2012 Boyd founded a consulting firm, Boyd Consulting Services, which offers writing services to clients and companies. For more information about these writing services see the following website: http://www.BettyBoydWriting.com/. Betty attended Athens State University, Athens, AL and received a B.B.A. in Management of Technology in 2000. She received her Masters of Science degree from Syracuse University with a concentration in Information Management in 2007. Boyd is a certified Level III contracting professional and she received a Masters level certificate in Project Management from the National Defense University in 2008.