Hudson Graduate Ozair Naqvi Selected for CDC’s Prestigious Epidemic Intelligence Service

Ozair Naqvi, Ph.D., a recent doctoral graduate from the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Hudson College of Public Health, has been accepted into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)—a nationally renowned training program for elite epidemiologists.

The highly competitive, two-year postdoctoral fellowship prepares participants to serve as frontline public health responders, or “disease detectives,” working to identify and combat emerging health threats across the United States and around the world.

Naqvi’s journey toward this career-defining opportunity began in 2015, when he first encountered the EIS program through The Next Pandemic, a book by former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Ali S. Khan.

“His career responding to infectious disease outbreaks inspired me, so I reached out to him for advice,” Naqvi shared. “Despite his demanding schedule as Dean of the University of Nebraska School of Public Health, he took the time to encourage me to pursue epidemiology—a conversation that shaped the course of my career.”

That inspiration led Naqvi to the Hudson College of Public Health, where he studied under the mentorship of Dr. Aaron Wendelboe, a former EIS officer.

“Hearing his firsthand experiences investigating disease outbreaks at the CDC only deepened my determination to follow in the footsteps of those who have dedicated their lives to protecting public health,” Naqvi said.

The EIS program is known for its field-based training model, where fellows engage directly with communities to investigate outbreaks, inform public health decisions with real-time data, and develop critical leadership skills.

“From the smallpox eradication campaign to the COVID-19 pandemic, EIS officers have been on the frontlines of public health, stepping up when the world needs us most,” Naqvi said. “I am honored to be a part of this legacy and to contribute to the ongoing mission of protecting lives through applied epidemiology.”

The Hudson College of Public Health celebrates Dr. Naqvi’s accomplishment and commends his commitment to serving the public good through science, leadership, and action.