Upon transitioning from academia to government service in 1999, my first three months at work were full of challenges while I stretched, grew, and adjusted to a new way of doing business. In the research laboratory at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, I did not ask anyone for permission, clearance, or cost-effectiveness policy guidance when ordering a $3,000 enzyme. I picked up the phone and told the customer service representative what I wanted, and it arrived 2 days later, appropriately packed in ice. The question I continued to ask upon entering government service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was, "Why does everything take so long?"

After 7 years here, I believe I can answer that question. The bottom line is that you have to ask yourself with each monetary transaction, "Will this benefit the public's health?" The bidding and clearance processes must also be considered. The bidding process ensures that we are getting the best value for any product or service. The clearance process ensures that the journal article, CD-ROM, poster, fact sheet, training course, or satellite broadcast is current, well-composed, and scientifically accurate.

After earning my PhD in immunology and molecular pathogenesis from Emory, my first position at CDC was as a laboratory trainer within the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program. I was the content editor for the agents of biologic and chemical terrorism laboratory protocols, participated as a faculty member in the CDC Agents of Bioterrorism Training for state public health department laboratories, and helped prepare the laboratory protocols for publication on the CDC Internet site.

Of course, I spent the first 3 months learning what all of the acronyms meant. Although my workdays were frequently 10-12 hours long, I felt the time was well-spent because I knew I had made a difference to public health practice in the United States and internationally. I realized within those first three months that I would be making a lifetime commitment to civil service at CDC. My choice of government work as a career was not made lightly; rather, it was the culmination of a process of reflection about what I wanted to do with my life and a driving force to help others.

Many wonderful elements can be taken together to equal a rewarding and exciting career in the government. Public health research is the foundation of CDC, and our public health personnel are among the best in the world, providing an opportunity for mentorship, leadership, domestic and global impact, and response to public health emergencies. Within such an agency as CDC, a plethora of research areas are available in which to work (e.g., diabetes, viral diseases, tuberculosis research, and terrorism preparedness and response). While my first three months presented challenges, I recommend considering a gratifying career in government service.