Who we are

The idea of starting a postgraduate program in Epidemiology evolved from the need of the Ministry of Health to staff positions in the preventive medicine divisions, both within the Ministry and in Health Regions, with qualified practicing Saudi epidemiologists, highly trained in the area of discovering and combating epidemics, and in improving preventive programs.

The Assistant Deputy Ministry of Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia along with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA, and King Saud University, developed the “Field Epidemiology Training Program” (FETP).

The program started accepting trainees in 1409 H (1989 G). The duration of training is two years, leading to “Diploma in Field Epidemiology” from King Saud University, which is recognized as equivalent to a Master Degree by Saudi Council for Health Specialties. The program accepted trainees from graduates of Medical Schools and other scientific majors with health promoting interests, until 1419 H (1999 G), when acceptance into the program was made exclusive to Medical School Graduates only.

The FETP is concerned with preparing qualified individuals to be involved in National, Regional and Local Health Programs of registering and control of diseases such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Infectious Diseases, Food poisoning, Cancer, Cardiac and Coronary disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Premarital screening and so on.

The Field Epidemiology Training Program is continuously strengthening its level of training, so as to adapt to the expanding scope of epidemiology globally and changing requirements of the Ministry of Health programs nationally. The program also organizes short training opportunities in epidemic investigation and surveillance to workers in the preventive field within the Ministry and Health Regions. Furthermore, the Ministry of civil services has lately approved a one-month training program in epidemiology for health surveyors and a 6 weeks Basic Epidemiology course for physicians. Program also organizes a series of training workshops on Epidemiology, Research methodology, Data analysis, Surveillance and Geographical Information System, on regular basis.

In the Field Epidemiology Training Program, we are working towards complying with the vision of the Ministry of Health and King Saud University, with the continuous support of the Minister of Health and authorities in the ministry, for improvement in health services through quality research and training.

Objectives

Program objectives

The FETP intends to fortify the capacity of the MOH and other health institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States to use epidemiology to find appropriate solutions to existing and emerging health concerns. This enhanced capacity will manifest itself as a cadre of epidemiologist trained under Arabian conditions using real, existing health problems as training material.

Trainee Objectives:

• To gain proficiency in the fundamental principles of epidemiology and the associated epidemiologic and statistical methods
• To understand the epidemiology of the priority diseases of the Kingdom and the epidemiologic rationale underlying their control
• To apply their epidemiologic skills to the control and prevention of these priority diseases
• To acquire the confidence and proficiency to rapidly detect and investigate disease outbreaks using epidemiologic methods
• To develop the skill of defining a specific health concern and then designing and executing a long-term epidemiologic study to approach a solution
• To design, conduct, analyze and evaluate epidemiologic surveillance
• To understand and apply survey methodology
• To communicate the findings of their investigations to epidemiologist, preventive medicine specialist, the medical community at large, and lay public. The trainees will develop both written and oral communication skills. These will include preparation of scientific reports suitable for publication and oral presentations at scientific meetings.
• To develop the ability to train others in epidemiologic investigation
• To be able to use microcomputers for epidemiologic analysis and report preparation

Collaboration

• The FETP participates with an epidemiologic team, as part of the preventive medicine team during the Hajj each year, to conduct field studies and participate in epidemiologic investigation and surveillance of health problems during hajj. Hajj studies are designed in line with the experiences acquired during previous hajj seasons. The aim of these studies is to prevent the appearance of certain epidemic diseases and evaluate variety of preventive health services in Hajj. Plans are made in collaboration with other involved governmental authorities to apply the recommendations of the studies in future hajj seasons, and to supervise their effectiveness.
• Provide training courses  for the Ministry of Health staffs in epidemiological surveillance, research methodology and biostatisticians.
• Provides consultation and assistance to all MOH departments in choosing and implementing scientific projects and statistical analyses.
• Issues a periodic epidemiological bulletin to include the results of the studies conducted by the program.