A Mentoring Program to Enhance State Chronic Disease Epidemiology

BACKGROUND:  The percentage of state health departments with minimal chronic disease surveillance increased from 8% in 2001 to 18% in 2009 according to survey data from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). The CSTE, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) has implemented a program whereby junior‐level chronic disease epidemiologists at Departments of Health receive mentoring from senior‐level chronic disease epidemiologists. It is expected that with competency‐ and project‐based mentorships lasting between six and twelve months, chronic disease epidemiology capacity at state health departments will be enhanced.

METHODS:  In September, 2012, a CSTE, CDC, and NACDD Steering Committee matched applicants forming eighth mentee and mentor pairs (MMPs). Each MMP developed project designs on the basis of state needs, priorities and feasibility.  Information gained from evaluation of the mentoring program the year before was used to strengthen various program components.

RESULTS:  Findings from last year's evaluations were useful in the design of the current mentoring cycle. MMPs designed projects with a deliverable product, each approved by the mentee's supervisor. Mentors will conduct a site visit to the mentee's health department. By January, 2013, all MMPs had defined projects and had begun project implementation. In Nevada, a GIS geocoding, mapping and info-graphics project supported the depiction of some specific cancers (incidence) state-wide. The Illinois MMP evaluated the impact of smoke free policies on hospital admissions and mortality rates of conditions linked to smoking state-wide. A project in Texas focused on evaluation of the impact of a community diabetes program. In Indiana, Medicaid data was used to assess over- and under-treatment for persistent asthma. The Tennessee MMP examined the impact of self-management education on chronic disease risks. A project in Texas focused on completing a Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan.  A Texas MMP used data to assess alcohol use among persons with chronic diseases.  The West Virginia MMP examined the burden of diabetes state-wide.

CONCLUSIONS: As this competency‐ and project‐based chronic disease epidemiology mentoring program enters another cycle from design to broader implementation, final deliverable products are expected to be completed by the fall of 2013. The MMPs enhance state chronic disease program activities. Further demonstration of usefulness of the mentoring program can help sustain mentoring program operations in the future.