Epidemiologists are like medical detectives— searching for clues to determine how and why people get sick. They look for patterns of disease in human populations and develop ways to prevent and control outbreaks. Epidemiologists collect data in many forms, then analyze and interpret it, using statistics to help uncover patterns. When they have enough information, they write reports and present their findings to government groups and the public. Like any detective, an epidemiologist must sometimes go on location to find out more about the cause and effect of a disease in a particular community. They may conduct interviews to identify who is at most risk, and to develop explanations for how a disease is spread. They often publish important findings in medical journals, which may lead to beneficial new public health programs. Most epidemiologists work for government agencies such as the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or state health departments. Epidemiologists also work at universities, hospitals, research facilities, and pharmaceutical companies. They may specialize in an area such as environmental epidemiology… emergency preparedness… or chronic diseases. Most enter the field with a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology. From finding the cause… to advocating treatment… and improving health outcomes, an epidemiologist needs patience and persistence to support society’s well-being.
What they do:
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
On the job, you would:
Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
biology
Health
medicine and dentistry
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Basic Skills
using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Verbal
listen and understand what people say
read and understand what is written
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Math
choose the right type of math to solve a problem
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Visual Understanding
see hidden patterns
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Analytical Thinking
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Initiative
Persistence
You might use software like this on the job:
Analytical or scientific software
StataCorp Stata
World Health Organization HealthMapper
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Geographic information system
Esri ArcGIS
Geographic information system GIS software
master's degree or doctoral degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.