The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (OSTLTS), Public Health Law Program (PHLP) seeks to hire attorneys for full-time, paid fellowships that will run through the end of September 2013. The Fellowships will be administered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the CDC’s as “ORISE Fellowships.” ORISE Fellows must begin their fellowships within five years of graduation from an accredited university.
The Public Health Law Program is one of the premier public health law organizations in the country. Situated at the intersection of public health law, science, and policy, PHLP is an ideal location for interested attorneys to gain experience in public health law research and translation. Members of PHLP work closely with other attorneys on project teams with significant autonomy and high expectations. The PHLP team focuses on maintaining a fast paced, creative, and collaborative work environment, and all team members are invited and encouraged to contribute to defining the program, making decisions, and developing projects.
The Fellows will learn about and conduct applied research on laws related to priority public health issues, including legal issues related to CDC’s “Winnable Battles” and other high profile issues. The six Winnable Battle areas are: healthcare-associated infections; HIV; motor vehicle injuries; nutrition, obesity, physical activity, and food safety; teen pregnancy; and tobacco use. PHLP also works in emerging fields such as prescription drug overdose and the sharing of public health laboratory services. PHLP is focused on producing products, and the Fellows will be able to help marshal projects to publication, even if publication occurs after the end of the Fellowships.
The Fellowships require a Juris Doctor (JD) degree – obtained in 2012 or before – legal research skills, demonstrated oral communication skills, and strong writing skills. The ideal candidate also will have knowledge or demonstrated interest in public health and legal issues that impact public health outcomes. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by email to Matthew S. Penn, Director, CDC Public Health Law Program, at
PHLawProgram@cdc.gov. Emails must reference “2013 ORISE Fellowship” in the subject line.