Allycia Kleine

How have you contributed to one of CDC’s priorities through your ASPPH/CDC Fellowship assignment? Explain what you have done that has “made a difference” at CDC and benefitted public health in the United States.

A priority of my host office, the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, is strengthening and modernizing the public health infrastructure. The Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, where my fellowship position sits, bolsters this initiative through workforce development. During my fellowship, I have contributed to these efforts by working on multiple training initiatives focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion and data science upskilling targeting both CDC fellows and full–time employees. This work helps to ensure that the public health workforce is inclusive and prepared to support CDC’s mission.

How will your fellowship experience shape your career?

In my public health career, I hope to develop and assess health promotional programs that impact the behavior of people, populations, and policy makers. Through this fellowship I have gained experiences that can be directly applied to my career goals. Namely, I’ve gotten the opportunity to participate in the development of programs from the initial stages of inception and planning, to execution, incorporating evaluation efforts, and implementation.

Describe specifically some of the relationships/partnerships you have built through the fellowship and how those relationships have helped/will help you in your career.

Through one of my projects, I collaborate with two other fellows from different fellowship programs. As a team, we build off one another’s diverse educational backgrounds and experiences. For this initiative I also work closely with my supervisor and external partners and engage with leadership and individuals from several departments. Given the interdisciplinary nature of public health, working in a multidisciplinary environment with stakeholders of various levels has been invaluable and pertinent experience that has helped me to enhance my interpersonal and communication skills.