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Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice

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Disease Intervention Specialist Training Academy

Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice

What is The Disease Intervention Specialist Training Academy?

Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) play a key role in public health, specializing in public health investigations, case management and analysis, provider and community engagement, and outbreak detection and response. Given the evolving role that DIS play in the public health workforce, additional training and skill development are essential. In partnership with USF Health and the Florida Department of Health, the Disease Intervention Specialist Training Academy (DISTA) offers an interdisciplinary approach to training the public health workforce. DISTA aims to develop public health professionals who can be catalysts and facilitators for all people to thrive in their communities through their disease prevention and control efforts. The program consists of several micro-courses in a tiered skills acquisition skills model focused on seven competency areas. This tiered approach simulates a career ladder and offers specialized training to support DIS professionals to advance their careers.

This competency-based short-cycle or micro-certificate program allows learners to delve deeply into specific areas of interest and offers cutting-edge practices to boost the public health workforce. This program is designed for professionals to acquire skills and knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of disease intervention. This micro-certificate offers digital badging and verifies skills through Credly to endorse achievement, expand qualifications, and attract advancement opportunities. The DISTA program is offered on the COPH Lifelong Learning Academy platform. Complete program details and course faculty can be found in the brochure.

Download Brochure

Target Audience

This program is geared toward new Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) and those looking to advance their public health careers.

Program Aims

There are two main aims of the DISTA program. The first is to bolster the capacity of the public health workforce to respond to infectious disease outbreaks by enhancing and strengthening the skillset of DIS. The second is to increase DIS retention by providing a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary pathway to prepare new DIS for this important and complex role.

Objectives

By the end of this academy, DIS will be able to:

  1. Effectively communicate with clients to improve health outcomes.
  2. Assist communities with infection prevention and control efforts.
  3. Identify disease processes and transmission to effectively intervene in infection transmission.
  4. Educate clients on different disease-specific testing methods, treatment options, and prevention strategies.
  5. Increase knowledge and skillset to prepare for career advancement and certification. 

Those who enroll in the program will participate in a tiered skills acquisition model. This tiered approach simulates a career ladder and offers specialized training to support DIS professionals to advance their careers while increasing the capacity of the public health system to respond to disease outbreaks. By completing this micro-certificate DIS are exposed to a variety of patient situations and opportunities for growth. This program includes in-person simulation training, asynchronous didactic education, hybrid learning, and hands-on experiences. 

  • Unit 1

    This tier provides training on communicable diseases specifically tailored for newly on-boarded DIS in core competencies, and essential services of disease intervention. Participants will be introduced to patient interviewing and counseling, clinical specimen collection and transportation, public health principles, epidemiology, cultural competency, and health literacy. Participants must complete each micro-course in the following competency areas of Unit 1 before proceeding to Unit 2. 

    • Competency Area 1: Basic Public Health 
    • Competency Area 2: Disease-Specific Content 
    • Competency Area 3: Interview Skills 
    • Competency Area 4: Counseling  
    • Competency Area 6: Specimen Collection 

    Unit 2

    This tier builds on the foundation knowledge taught in Unit 1 and is ideal for public health professionals who are ready to advance in their careers by increasing their knowledge base.  During this unit, DIS 2 will gain knowledge in motivational interviewing, advanced patient counseling techniques, and how to navigate mental health, and substance use. Participants must complete each micro-course in the following competency areas of Unit 2 before proceeding to Unit 3.  

    • Competency Area 2: Disease-Specific Content 
    • Competency Area 3: Interview Skills 
    • Competency Area 4: Counseling  
    • Competency Area 5: Social Behavioral Health 

    Unit 3

    This tier curriculum is designed for advanced DIS professionals. This tier provides training in additional areas of infectious disease, motivational interviewing, and being introduced to data management, and leadership skills. This tier is designed to prepare rising leaders in public health to meet the growing needs of communities through the efficient and effective management of public health programs. Participants will strengthen their disease intervention, public health knowledge, and leadership skills. Participants must complete Unit 3 in its entirety before proceeding to supervisory Unit 4. Participants will follow the plan of study below:   

    • Competency Area 1: Basic Public Health 
    • Competency Area 2: Disease-Specific Content 
    • Competency Area 3: Interview Skills 
    • Competency Area 4: Counseling  
    • Competency Area 5: Social Behavioral Health 
    • Competency Area 7: Leadership 

    Unit 4

    This tier is designed for seasoned professionals who are interested in advancing their careers and expanding their leadership skills. Participants will be taught how to delegate tasks, build trust, and handle conflict. This tier will prepare public health professionals to manage programs while being effective managers and leaders of teams. Participants will gain skills that will contribute to the retention and expansion of the public health workforce while learning how to effectively engage stakeholders and lead multi-sector collaborations. Topics in this unit include human resources, finance, social marketing, data management, and advanced disease-specific training. Participants must complete Unit 4 in its entirety to receive the DIS Supervisory Level Digital Badge. Participants will follow the plan of study below: 

    • Competency Area 1: Basic Public Health 
    • Competency Area 2: Disease-Specific Content 
    • Competency Area 3: Interview Skills 
    • Competency Area 5: Social Behavioral Health 
    • Competency Area 7: Leadership 

  • DISTA has applied for Certified Community Health Worker and Certified Public Health (CPH) continuing education units. Additionally, this program offers digital badging through Credly. Digital badges help to endorse your achievement, expand your qualifications, and attract advancement opportunities. Instructions on how to claim your CPH credit and digital badge will be provided at the end of each unit.

  • Applicants must be employed as a Disease Intervention Specialist at the Florida Department of Health. Learning opportunities will be available for non-FDOH employees in the future.

    This program is currently available at no cost for FDOH Disease Intervention Specialists.

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Resources

Contact

For more information regarding the DIS program, please contact distainfo@usf.edu

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