What is Epidemiology?

Epidemiology is the area of healthcare that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases, illnesses and ‘other factors’ relating to health.

What is Epidemiology?

Epidemiology is a field where trained epidemiologists study patterns of frequency and the causes and effects of diseases in human populations. Epidemiology provides the scientific footings for evidence-based medicine and allows placement of strategies for improvement in public health. Epidemiology is often referred to as the cornerstone of modern public health research and practice and it relies on a variety of relevant public health areas, including biology, biostatistics, social sciences, and assessing risk of exposure to a threat.

What is an Epidemiologist?

Epidemiologists study outbreaks of diseases, the causes, locations, and how various communities are affected, utilizing relative information to aid in the prevention of future outbreaks. Epidemiologists help to keep the public informed of methods to maintain and improve public health. Epidemiologists work at universities and for government organizations including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), or the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that epidemiologists earned an average of $65,270 in 2012 with the top ten percent of epidemiologists earning at least $108,320.

What are the Degree Options for a Career in Epidemiology?

* Bachelor’s Degree – Most universities and colleges do not offer undergraduate programs in Epidemiology and those who want to pursue epidemiology careers usually choose to pursue medicine or other health fields prior to graduate studies.

* Master’s Degree – Epidemiologists are required to have at least a Master’s degree from an accredited University or College. Most epidemiologists have a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) or a related field. Epidemiology graduate programs provide students with the skills to investigate and analyze the root causes and spread of disease to develop methods of prevention and control. The most common degree is a Master of Public Health with a concentration or focus on epidemiology, however degree programs that focus solely on epidemiology are becoming more popular. Most Master’s Degree programs require students to complete a practicum or internship that can last for up to one year. In addition to a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology some programs offer highly concentrated degrees for those pursuing particular career paths. Some areas of specialization can include focus on cancer, cardiovascular disease, genetics, infectious disease, environmental causes and aging.

* Doctoral Degree – Some research epidemiologists may be required to hold a Ph.D. or medical degree depending on the careers they choose. A doctoral degree provides graduates the skills and knowledge required to be at the top of their chosen field. The doctorate degree in epidemiology consists of one to three years of study and a doctoral dissertation. Those who earn a doctorate will find more opportunities available including more in-depth research studies or options for teaching. Students in a doctoral program can specialize in specific areas of epidemiology including cancer research or zoonotic infectious diseases.

What are the Future Career Paths For Those With Graduate Degree’s in Epidemiology?

Those who pursue careers in epidemiology within public health work in many capacities including within universities and government organizations including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), or World Health Organization (WHO). The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that epidemiologists earned an average of $65,270 in 2012 with the top ten percent of epidemiologists earning at least $108,320.

This area of Healthcare Management is an excellent option for individuals who want to help track patterns of illness and disease and decipher plans to stop further spread. A career as an Epidemiologist is a great way to help your community, society and humankind.

There seems to be a lot of ‘ologist’ out there. Psychologist, Sociologist, Zoologist, Biologist, Theologist and more ‘gist’ than there is paper here to print.

To be ‘ologist’ means to study a subject. Just throw that on to the back of your favorite subject and you qualify. You might even make talk radio?

So here we are stuck at home, reading more than we ever did in school, listening to twenty year old music we can’t dance to, eating everything in sight and digging a tunnel to escape while waiting on an Epidemiologist to come up with a solution to set us free.

I read the reports of anti-bodies and invasive cold germs to wipe out this new plague. I also know it takes more than fifteen minutes to come up with the magic elixir to rid the country of this ‘invisible enemy’ so we can all come outside again.

So the best of the scientific minds are searching for variations to a solution, we wait and after awhile we will try anything to put us out of our misery.

Perhaps aspirin or vapor rub will work? Have they tried decongestant or nose spray? How about cocaine?

This ‘new normal’ may last (dare I say it?) years. I’m old enough to die in this pandemic wearing a bandana eating a banana. I’m already homeschooled but would like to meet some new people along the way out.

The idea of shaking hands is now forebode which also takes away the subtleties of holding hands or touching. Swapping spit with a stranger will become a distant memory. This makes dating boring. This will also cut down on the population.

While the Epidemiologist study their charts and examine their data and compare their testing, we will wait.

As long as the food holds out and we can bury our dead in the backyard, we will wait.

Wash your hands.