Lessons learned from an evaluation of the Rollins Epidemiology Fellowship: Incorporating stakeholder stories into program design and adaptation

In summer 2023, the external evaluator gathered input and feedback on program design/adaptation, implementation and impact from 25 program fellows, 20 former and current site supervisors, three health department representatives and six academic mentors via focus groups and in-depth interviews. This data, coupled with quantitative program results, helped to tell the story of the COVID-19 Epidemiology Fellowship from inception to its current state and to inform future directions. Findings from the qualitative program evaluation validate that the program has been successful in partnering directly with local health departments to fill immediate workforce needs while cultivating a next generation of leaders in public health practice. All supervisors and fellows agreed that the fellowship should continue and that it should expand in scope beyond COVID-19. The presenter will discuss how stakeholder stories were used in re-shaping program design and adaptation and how evaluation findings were utilized to inform sustainable changes in public health program design and partnerships.