 A few years ago, a group of public health graduate students at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health wanted to learn more about how local health departments conduct outbreak investigations. The students also wanted to take part in emerging and continuing disease investigations with public health professionals. As a result, and with the support of the College, they formed the Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER) Team.
Through the coordination of the Arizona Center for Public Health Preparedness at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, SAFER is now available to assist state and local health departments in the event of an outbreak or other public health event, giving students an invaluable hands-on experience. Once students join the team, they are required to take a training session on surveillance and outbreak investigations taught by the Arizona Department of Health Services Infectious Epidemiology Division. Students also attend trainings provided by Maricopa and Pima County Health Departments on outbreak investigations.
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