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 combatting epidemics, and in improving preventive programs.

The Ministry of Health, along with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA, and King Saud University, developed the "Field Epidemiology Training Program" (FETP), affiliated to the Deputy Subdivision of Preventive Medicine.

The program started accepting trainees since 1409 H (1989). The duration of training is two years, ending with a Diploma in Field Epidemiology from King Saud University, equivalent to a Masters Degree. The program accepted trainees from graduates of Medical Schools and other scientific majors with health promoting interests, until 1419 H, when acceptance into the program was excluded to Medical School Graduates only.

The FETP is concerned with preparing qualified individuals to be involved in National 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, and so on.

So far, 53 trainees have graduated from the program, and have worked within various Health Regions in the Kingdom. Four of the graduates had been on scholarship from the Ministry of Health in Oman, since there is room for accepting one trainee from the Gulf States each year.

The Field Epidemiology Training Program is continuously promoting its level of training, so as to fulfill the requirements of the Ministry of Health programs. 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.

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.