About Us

What is Epidemiology?

Epidemiology is the core science of public health. The broad mission of public health, as defined in 1978 by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), is “enhancing health in human populations through organized community effort.” The science of epidemiology is directed at identifying the determinants of health, disease, disability and death in populations for the purposes of health promotion and disease control and prevention. 

Epidemiologists work at both the forefront of public health in the control and prevention of disease, disability and death and behind the scenes researching risk factors and causes of health problems across populations. Epidemiologists play a key role in public health by collecting data on health indicators in populations. We detect, investigate and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks, design health and disease screening and surveillance programs and primary and secondary preventive interventions. Most importantly, we generate new knowledge about the causes of health and disease and help guide health policy and promotion, as well as medical treatment.

Mission

• Provide the highest quality education and training in the philosophy, principles and practice of epidemiology to the next generation of epidemiologists; conduct innovative, interdisciplinary research on the causal architecture of health and disease in populations;
• Develop new methods to advance the science of population health;
• Apply the findings of epidemiologic research to the formulation of public health policy and interventions to improve population health
• Build epidemiologic capacity and infrastructure at local, state and federal levels