Have you ever wondered what is an epidemiologist? Or is and epidemiologist a doctor? So what is a epidemiologist anyway? Who studies how disease outbreaks are controlled? Who is responsible for tracking down the origins of an epidemic and preventing infectious diseases from spreading further? The answer: Epidemiologists. Epidemiologists are public health workers and can work in hospitals, for government organizations or for non-profit agencies. All of these public health practice career positions require managing and understanding disease patterns, analyze data and health outcomes, but the exact duties and training required of infectious disease epidemiologists workers are different in each location. Public health surveillance and understanding public health issues is part of the epidemiologist’s important role.
Hospital Epidemiologists
Sometimes people wonder are epidemiologists doctors? Many epidemiologists who work in hospitals are epidemiologist doctors who treat patients with an infectious illness. An epidemiologist doctor may be called Infection Control Officers or Infectious Diseases Directors instead of epidemiologists. At some hospitals, clinical epidemiologists also teach at local universities and pursue epidemiological research in their area of interest. In modern epidemiology, the epidemiologist will track mortality statistics, determining and reporting as required causes of death such as lung cancer or even birth defects.
Government Epidemiologists
The United States is home to one of the most respected institutes for handling communicable disease, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Epidemiologist from the CDC travel across the world preventing dangerous outbreaks and protecting the Western world. At the CDC, epidemiologists research new strains of rare diseases, implement vaccination and prevention programs and prevent bioterrorist threats.
Some epidemiologists also work for state, county or city government organizations. At this level, epidemiologists are working with diseases like influenza, syphilis and MRSA. Local health departments also promote public health initiatives, pursue data collection, and determine risk factors in the community. While not as thrilling as deadly illnesses like Ebola or anthrax, everyday viruses can affect millions of people. State and local epidemiologists create public health awareness programs for many disease issues such as COVID-19, manage clinical workers and educate their community on disease prevention.
Non-Profit Organization
Epidemiologists working for non-profit agencies can take their careers in any direction. Some non-profits focus on researching biological cures or social tools for preventing the spread of disease. Other agencies turn their attention to on-the-ground clinical efforts to fight malaria or HIV/AIDS. Many international health agencies, such as Partners In Health and Doctors Without Borders, employ epidemiologists to counter communicable diseases.
How To Become an Epidemiologist
You can become an epidemiologist in different ways. If you want to provide direct care to patients, attend medical school to earn a medical degree and specialize in infectious disease. You can add additional training to enhance your public health career in epidemiology after you graduate. Many public health schools and professional schools offer special master’s degree programs for health practitioners; you may be able to earn an epidemiology degree in just one year.
If you want to conduct research, work in program design or public education, you will need a master’s degree. A master’s in public health with a concentration in epidemiology is ideal for working with a non-profit or government agency. If you want to conduct scientific research, start with a master’s of science in epidemiology. You can then earn a doctoral degree in the field from one of the excellent graduate programs available.
Typical bachelor’s degree majors to enter a graduate program in epidemiology include biological sciences, public policy, or social science. Epidemiology programs include courses in public health, health policy, biological science, physical science, math, and statistics.
Epidemiology master’s degree programs in public health may require an internship or practicum that may take from a semester to a year, depending on which of the acredited academic institutions you attend. Internships and other opportunities may be available at federal government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The World Health Organization is another prestigious organization that epidemiologists work for.
There are also licenses or certificate programs that can help an epidemiologist advance in their career. These include certificate programs with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
What are some traits that help make an epidemiologist successful
Characteristics that successful epidemiologists have are: a good working knowledge of Statistics; good written and verbal communication skills; computer skills; organizational skills; and ability to learn new things efficiently.
How is the job outlook and pay for Epidemiologists
According to the bureau of labor and statistics (BLS.gov), Epidemiologist can expect robust growth over the next 10 years, with a 26% growth expected from 2021 to 2031. This job growth is much greater than the average 5% growth for all other occupations expected in the same time period.
Labor statistics also report the median annual wage for these health workers is $78,830 as of May 2021. The bureau of labor statistics shows highest paid infectious disease epidemiology workers work in research and boast a median annual salary of $126,470. Those working in hospitals have a median income of $83,230, those working in state, private or private colleges have median salary of $78,410. Government employed epidemiologists have the lowest median salary with local government workers making $74,370 and those in state government making $66,840.
What job titles might an epidemiologist have?
Public Health practitioners that graduate from an online master’s in epidemiology program can enjoy satisfying careers in a wide array of organizations. These may include disease-prevention organizations, community-based public health organizations, industry, academics, government, and global health. Job titles may include: clinical data analyst, clinical research coordinator, data scientist, or director of clinical risk management. Other possible job titles include director of health outcomes, district epidemiologist, epidemiologist & surveillance coordinator, health statistician, healthcare analyst, infection control specialist, public health analyst, and senior research associate. They may have a clinical practice, work for pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, work as research epidemiologists to collect data and study population groups and more. Epidemiologists work help human populations have a lower rate of life lost to infectious diseases that can hit a target population.
Professional organizations for Epidemiologists
Professional organizations work to serve and promote a profession through education, policy, networking, and more. They help promote sub groups of epidemiology such as injury epidemiology. Many professionals join one or more organizations to help with continuing education and networking for employment. Here are some professional organizations that serve Epidemiologists.
American College of Epidemiology (ACE)
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER)
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention
Why Epidemiology
In epidemiology careers, you can combine your passion for science with your desire to help others. Whether you research new methods of preventing disease epidemics or design vaccination campaigns for rural villages, you will be making a difference. Epidemiological research helps improve public health. Plus, trained epidemiologists are always in demand; the field has a low unemployment rate.
Epidemiologists are researchers, healers, educators and clinicians. With the right education, you can enjoy a long and varied career. With the proper training, you can make a difference in the world.
MPH staff, 2023
Additional Resources:
Top 10 Best Epidemiology Programs-Master’s Degrees Online 2022
15 Best MPH Programs Not Requiring GRE 2022
10 Most Affordable MPH Degree Programs Online 2023
Top 10 Fastest MPH Degree Programs Online 2022