Epidemiology is part of the field of public health and preventive medicine. An epidemiologist studies the health of populations to discover what factors lead to disease. Epidemiology is considered the basic science behind all public health practices. The research done by epidemiologists allows other health care professionals to offer advice on how to prevent disease.
Epidemiologists perform closely monitored studies to determine the factors that affect health and cause disease. They monitor the overall health of populations and look for patterns of disease. In addition, many epidemiologists perform outbreak investigations to determine the initial source of an epidemic. Other epidemiologists examine lifestyle factors and their relation to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Epidemiology is often broken down into the categories of infectious disease and chronic disease. There are also sub-specialties such as injury prevention, aging, women’s health, reproductive health, and social epidemiology.
Principles of Epidemiology
According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), epidemiology is founded on two basic principles. The first is that disease does not occur at random. Epidemiologist look at patterns of disease and health in order to understand what causes illness to occur.
The second is that the cause of disease can be identified through organized studies. These studies allow epidemiologists to control as many factors as possible to determine which factor is affecting the health of the population.
Where Epidemiologists Work
Epidemiologists work in a variety of settings. Many work for local and state health departments. Others work in research settings such as hospitals and universities. The federal government also employs many epidemiologists through the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Finally, many private corporations specializing in health care research also employ epidemiologists.
Licensing
Currently, there are no licensing exams for epidemiologists. Beginning in August 2008, the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) will begin offering a new exam that will allow individuals to become Certified in Public Health (CPH). The exam is available to all graduates of accredited schools of public health and will contain questions relating to multiple disciplines of public health.
Education
Epidemiology is a specialized field that usually requires training at the post-baccalaureate level. Few universities offer degrees in epidemiology at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, epidemiologists can pursue a professional track leading to a Master's of Public Health (MPH) or a more research oriented track earning an MS, or the equivalent. Epidemiologist may also go on to earn a PhD or Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH). Some epidemiolodists are physicians who have chosen to focus on epidemiological issues.
The study of epidemiology requires numerous courses in biostatistics as well as other fields of public health including behavioral science, environmental health, and health policy.
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