The State of Funding for Applied Epidemiology-Results From the 2024 Epidemiology Capacity Assessment.

Abstract

Context: The applied epidemiology workforce in state health departments relies heavily on federal funding sources and personnel will be lost with the end of pandemic funding.

Program: In Spring 2024, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists conducted its 8th Epidemiology Capacity Assessment in state and territorial health departments to understand the epidemiology workforce, including describing the funding sources for epidemiology personnel and activities.

Implementation: The assessment was distributed electronically via Qualtrics to the State and Territorial Epidemiologists in the 50 states, District of Columbia and the 8 US territories and freely associated states. Data collection took place between January and April 2024. The assessment had 42 questions, including a mix of numeric entry, matrix tables and open-ended questions.

Evaluation: The results were analyzed using R Studio software and Excel 2008, including descriptive statistics, statistical significance tests, and cross-tabulations to explore data at the national level and by state size and region. Qualitative results were tabulated and coded for salient themes.

Discussion: Major gaps in the workforce remain across program areas and cyclical, prescriptive funding limits epidemiologists' ability to respond to the unique needs of their communities. There is a need to diversify funding streams through engagement with state government and academic institutions. Health departments need flexible, diverse funding to be able to effectively respond to both current and future health threats.