Epidemiology may not be one of the most known branches of medical sciences, but it certainly is one of the most important, especially in recent years. For anyone unfamiliar, epidemiology is the study of the health of populations and it focuses heavily on diseases.
Seeing as our society was in the midst of a global pandemic just five years ago, it’s safe to say epidemiology has gained a new level of importance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% job growth in the next 10 years, but what exactly are the main goals of epidemiologists?
Here are some of the key aspects of the field:
How Do They Track the Spread of Diseases?
Epidemiology revolves largely around studying how, where, and why diseases occur. By analyzing these key factors, these scientific specialists are able to identify patterns within the spread, which helps to show who is most affected and where outbreaks are likely to strike next.
Epidemiologists were crucial in the early 2020s for tracking the COVID-19 virus. They utilized case surveillance and contact tracing to directly track the spread and epidemiological models were also used to predict how the virus would spread under different circumstances–for example with and without wearing masks.
How Are Future Outbreaks Prevented?
The data collected about the causes and spread of diseases can then be utilized to prevent additional outbreaks. This can be done through vaccine development, public health policies, education campaigns, etc.
Epidemiologists also are constantly assessing situations and adapting their containment and prevention strategies. As new variants of diseases appear, the most effective way to handle it could be totally different from the original strain. In the case of the coronavirus, we currently have new booster immunizations that are particularly targeting the Omicron variant, thanks in part to the work of epidemiologists.
How D They Evaluate Public Health Programs?
Beyond helping to track the spread of specific diseases, epidemiologists also assess public health programs, such as clean water initiatives. They track performance indicators for each program, as well as ask guiding questions about how effective it’s been. For example, in the case of an anti-smoking program, they’d observe if the smoking rate of teens has declined.
Once they’ve completed a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, those results can be shared with stakeholders. From there, improvements can be made, or scaling can be adjusted. This is all key to make sure resources aren’t being wasted on programs that aren’t seeing results.
Why Does Epidemiology Matter?
Epidemiology is the backbone of public health. It plays a major role in protecting people, in particular more vulnerable communities. By analyzing disease data as it relates to race and ethnicity, income level, and disability, they can see the disproportionate effects. Revealing these injustices is extremely important to working to correct them.
Epidemiologists also play a role in amplifying community voices through community-based participatory research. This strategy involves working directly with communities in the research process to build trust. They utilize lived experiences as a source of knowledge to improve the relevance of health solutions to real people.
Can I Earn An Online Epidemiology Degree?
Earning a MPH degree in epidemiology is a great first step towards being a part of this invaluable research and development. SDSU Global Campus offers a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology online. The program can be completed in just 22 months, and is online and asynchronous, making it very accessible.
You’ll learn from expert faculty from SDSU’s School of Public Health, the same instructors who teach in-person classes on the SDSU campus. In addition, you’ll be able to gain hands-on experience working with a public health organization in your community. Graduates will be equipped with the advanced skills needed to become leaders in public health.
So why wait? Apply today!
