The EPIET programme
Viviane Bremer, EPIET Chief Coordinator
Training programmes based at
ECDC
• Two pathways
 European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology
Training (EPIET)
 European Public Health Microbiology Training (EUPHEM)
• Two tracks
 EU-track: Training in different country than country of
origin
 MS-track: Training in own country
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EPIET staff
• Scientific Coordinators 5.5 FTE
 Viviane Bremer, chief coordinator, ECDC (100%)
 Marion Muehlen, ECDC (100%)
 Alicia Barrasa, Madrid (100%)
 Biagio Pedalino, Paris (100%)
 Ioannis Karagiannis, Berlin (100%)
 Helen Maguire, London (50%)
• Support from PAE
 Katharina Alpers, Berlin (100%)
 Manuel Dehnert as statistician
• Administration
 2.3 FTE logistical support
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EPIET programme
• Programme started 1996
 Funded by ECDC/EU Member States
• Objectives
 Strengthen CD surveillance & control in EU
 Develop a European network of intervention epidemiologists
• Training fellows and externals together
• Training of trainers
• Sustaining and strengthening a network of training sites
 Develop a response capacity inside & beyond EU
• surveillance
• outbreak investigations
• applied research
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Training objectives for the fellows
• Investigate outbreaks
• Plan, implement, or evaluate a surveillance system
• Develop a research project on a relevant public health issue
• Gain acquaintance with laboratory techniques
• Present and publish the results of their work to the scientific
community
• Teach epidemiology to public health professionals
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Training format
• Theoretical training
 An introductory course (3 weeks), open to
external participants
 Seven one-week training modules rotating in
EU Member States
• Learning by doing practical training
 23 months
 At a European public health institute
• national
• regional
 On site supervision by senior epidemiologists and EPIET
coordinators
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Time frame per cohort
Cohort 15
Sept 09
Sept 11
Cohort 16
Sept 10
Sept 12
Cohort 17
Sept 11
Sept 13
•18 fellows in EPIET EU Track
• 4 fellows in EUPHEM
•10 fellows in MS track
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Selection process EU-track
• 1st stage
 Check eligibility (ECDC)
 MS rank 2 best candidates
 ECDC Selection Panel goes through all applications and
selects eligible candidates
• 2nd stage
 Candidates choose preferred training sites
 Face to face interview with ECDC selection panel
• 3rd stage
 Training site market
 Interviews with training sites
• 4th stage
 Final selection meeting between panel and host site
representatives and placement of candidates
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Selection MS-track
Criteria for MS
1. Number of EPIET alumni in the active public health workforce
of the MS:
None = 2 points; 1 or 2 = 1 point; 3 or more = 0 points
2. MS with acknowledged EPIET or national FETP training site
within the past 4 cohorts:
No training site= 2 points; training site 1 fellow trained= 1 point;
site with ≥2 fellows trained= 0 points;
3. Number of fellows from the MS who graduated from an
EPIET/FETP programme in the past:
None = 2 points; 1-4 = 1 point; 5 or more = 0 points
Criteria for fellows
•
•
Same as EU-track
Selection done by MS
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Practical Training – current training sites
 Host sites increased from 15 to 30 between 2002 and 2010
 13 regional sites
Helsinki
Oslo
ECDC
Copenhagen
Belfast Glasgow
Dublin Cardiff
Stockholm
Bilthoven
Gloucester Brussels
London (3x)
Berlin
Warsaw
Hannover
Dillenburg
Paris (2x)
Landau
Budapest
Stuttgart
Munich Vienna
Lyon
Martinique
Ljubljana
Marseille
Madrid
Lisbon
Rome
Introductory course
• Lectures from field
epidemiologists
• Introduction to microbiology
• Interactive case studies
based on real investigations
• Development of a study
protocol based on real PH
issue
• Surveillance exercise
• Communication exercises
Since 2004 in Menorca
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Modules
• Compulsory






Introductory course
Computer tools in outbreak investigations
Vaccinology
Multivariable analysis
Sampling techniques
Project review (2x)
• Optional
 Time Series Analysis
 Rapid assessment of complex emergency situations
• In addition
 Introduction to the laboratories (organized locally)
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Choice of modules
• Skills assessment form at start of training
 Discussed with host site supervisor and EPIET
coordinators
• Depending on
 Previous skills
 Local training opportunities
 Future needs
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Tracks and associated programmes
Fellow
Fellow
Supervision
location
EPIET / EUPHEM
EU-track
On Site
In Other
MS
Moving
to MS
recruitment
& Salary costs
Training Modules
Scientific
Organisation &
costs
Coordination
ECDC
ECDC
EPIET / EUPHEM
ECDC
On Site
MS-track
Staying in home
MS
EPIET associated
national FETP
On Site
Member
States
Member
Member
States
States
Financed by ECDC
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What is the role of coordinators?
• Overall responsible for training
 Organise training modules / courses
 Revise teaching content in agreement with EPIET
Traning Site Forum
• Training sites
 Identify and appraise new training sites
 Regularly evaluate existing training sites
• Supervisors
 Identify training needs for supervisors
 Advise supervisors on questions
• Fellows
 Review all work of fellows
 Make sure that training goes smoothly
 Supervise international missions
 Ensure smooth administrative processes
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Supervision of fellows
•
•
•
•
Supervision on site
At least 1 senior epidemiologist
On average 4 hours/week
Draft protocols/reports/manuscripts sent to
all coordinators
• Viadesk as virtual office/Extranet as of 1st
April 2011
• Final work uploaded on virtual office
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Scientific Conference
• ESCAIDE
 co-organized by ECDC, EPIET, EAN, TEPHINET-Euro
• Slots for EPIET fellows
• EPIET fellows, alumni, FETPs Europe, supervisors and
colleagues from training sites
 EPIET Fellows prepared by “project review” module
• TEPHINET conference
 Global conference biannually
 EIS International night
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Output of EPIET 1995-2010
• Cohort 1-15:
 176 fellows trained in EPIET
 63 fellows trained in EPIET-associated programmes
 177/185 (96%) graduated (diploma)
• Network of trainers
 Facilitation at modules
 EPIET training site forum
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Challenges
• Size of cohorts
 Number of modules
 Number of facilitators needed
 Logistics
 Quality of teaching
• MS-track
 In sites that may not be ideal
 Requires intensive support
 Protected time for fellows
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Thank you!
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