The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) held an opening ceremony for the 21st cohort of the Advanced Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program (Advanced FETP) and the 7th cohort of the Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program (Intermediate FETP) in Changping district, Beijing, on Mar 2, 2022.
The ceremony, presided over by Liu Jianjun, deputy director of the China CDC and executive president of its Graduate School, brought together over 100 participants, including 64 trainees with 24 from Advanced FETP and 40 from Intermediate FETP. These newly enrolled trainees come from China CDC and other 27 provincial and city institutes of disease prevention and control.
George F. Gao, director general of the China CDC delivered a keynote speech in the opening ceremony. Gao welcomed the newly enrolled trainees to CFETP family and encouraged them to be down-to-earth, adhere to professionalism, improve their competence in public health, and share China's experience in public health with the world.
He also affirmed the achievements of the CFETP and proposed to build it into a field epidemiological training flagship program through capacity building of public health professionals to safeguard health security in China.
Ma Huilai, vice-president of the CDC Graduate School and director of the CFETP, introduced the development of the program, especially the important role the program has played in promoting the establishment of a national field epidemiology training network, participating in major public health emergency responses such as COVID-19, and providing international assistance.
Up to now, a total of 444 trainees have been enrolled by the Advanced FETP and 279 by the Intermediate FETP.
Representatives from 21st Advanced FETP and 7th Intermediate FETP delivered speeches respectively, expressing their gratitude to join the CFETP family and expectations for future growth through "learning by doing".
At the end of the ceremony, Liu Jianjun gave a lecture entitled “Learning at Work”, discussing the philosophy of work and the wisdom of life with the trainees.