A public health epidemiologist specializes in the investigation of disease…
A public health epidemiologist specializes in the investigation of disease and many other public health issues, to stop them from spreading or from recurring. They then report their findings to the government and to the public.
Epidemiologists frequently work for the government and for universities, as well as research institutions. They often collect and analyze data to do in depth research of health issues. Most frequently, epidemiologists focus on infectious diseases, but they can focus on other areas as well.
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Sometimes epidemiologists will work in private companies, including health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies.
According to a survey in 2009 by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, local government epidemiologists work most often in these areas:
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Infectious diseases
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Bioterrorism
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Maternal and child health
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Chronic diseases
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Environmental health
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Injury
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Occupational health
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Substance abuse
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Oral health
YouTube Video Resource
Epidemiologist job description. Learn about Epidemiologist jobs, responsibilities, salaries and more.
Epidemiologist Degree
An epidemiologist has to have a master’s degree in epidemiology, or a master’s degree in public health (MPH) with a focus on epidemiology. Some top epidemiologists may have a Ph.D. in the field.
Some of the most common coursework in this field at the master’s level includes:
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Public health
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Biology
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Biostatistics
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Statistical methods
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Causal analysis
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Survey design
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Regression
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Medical informatics
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Biomedical research
Epidemiologist Job Description
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Plan/direct detailed studies of public health issues to discover ways to prevent them and to treat the issues.
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Perform the collection and analysis of data, by using observations, interviews, surveys and blood samples – to discover what is causing certain diseases.
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Communicate study findings to policymakers, practitioners and the general public
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Provide management of health programs by doing program planning, monitoring program progress and doing data analysis.
Epidemiologist Skills and Qualifications
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Communications skills
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Critical thinking
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Detail oriented
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Math and statistics
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Speaking
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Writing
YouTube Special Feature
Every day there are news reports of new health advice, but how can you know if they’re right? Doctor and epidemiologist Ben Goldacre shows us, at high speed, the ways evidence can be distorted, from the blindingly obvious nutrition claims to the very subtle tricks of the pharmaceutical industry.
Epidemiologist Salary
BLS reports that the median wage for epidemiologists is $64,000. However the top 10% earn over $98,000 per year. This would include people who have many years of experience and a master’s or doctoral degree. The median salaries for different industries are as follows:
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Pharmaceutical/medical device companies: $92,000
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Hospitals: $72,000
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Scientific research: $67,000
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Colleges and universities: $61,000
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Government: $57,000
Indeed.com reports that the median salary in the field is $64,000.
US News and World Report states that the best-paid epidemiologists reside in San Francisco, San Diego and Oakland CA.
Epidemiologist Employment Outlook
The employment prospects for epidemiologists are excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in this field will increase by 24% by 2020, which is faster than average. Increasing public awareness and more reliance on reliable medical records for the analysis of public health means that there will be a solid, growing demand for epidemiologists.
BLS also reports that employment growth for this field should be especially robust in local and state governments.
Epidemiologist Interviews
Read this interview to meet state epidemiologist Dr. Dale Morse, who got his first working exposure to epidemiology one summer on a Navajo Indian reservation investigating allergic reactions to tattoo dyes, and a serious outbreak of giardiasis that causes gastrointestinal problems.
Epidemiologist Interview
Read this interview to meet research epidemiologist Dr. JoAnn Manson, who is devoted to improving the lives of women by researching the roles of diet and lifestyle in the prevention of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, diabetes and other major illnesses.
Epidemiologist Associations
- American College of Epidemiology: An organization of professional epidemiologists that serves the interests of the profession around the world.
- American Public Health Association: This is the oldest public health association in the US, and has been working to improve public health since 1972.
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America: The mission of this association is to prevent and control health care related infections and to advance the field of epidemiology.
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology: A professional organization dedicated to the interests and needs of epidemiologists who focus on infection control.
- International Epidemiological Association: Facilitates communication among 1000 members who work in research and teaching of epidemiology.
Additional Epidemiology Resources
- American Journal of Epidemiology: The top journal in epidemiology that is fully devoted to publication of the latest research findings and articles in the field.
- EPI Monitor: An online journal that is dedicated to the science and technology of epidemiology
Additional Video Resources
- What Is Epidemiology – University of Michigan
- Statistical Follies and Epidemiology
- Disease Detectives – Epidemiology
- Ben Goldacre – Battling Bad Science
- International Society for Environmental Epidemiologyc/o JSI Research and Training Institute
- American College of Epidemiology
- International Epidemiological Association
