Question: What is Epidemiology?
Answer: According to the University of Washington's Department of Epidemiology, epidemiology is "the study of the frequency, distribution, and determinants of disease in human populations." In other words, epidemiologists study outbreaks of diseases, the causes, locations, and how various communities are affected. Then they utilize this information to help prevent further outbreaks and inform the public of how to maintain or improve their health.
Many people working in the field of epidemiology are MDs, PhDs, or both. Jobs in epidemiology include but are not limited to research, biostatistics, and teaching.
Many epidemiologists work for universities or government organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), or World Health Organization (WHO).
For more information, visit the following professional associations:
