Epidemiologist

An epidemiologist is someone who studies diseases in populations in order to attribute factors that may be associated with a specific disease or a set of diseases with the end goal of finding methods of prevention and/or harm reduction. Epidemiologists may collect and analyze data attributed to an outcome of interest or use previously collected data, such as hospital records, in order to achieve their goals. Epidemiologists also play an instrumental role in designing observational and experimental studies involving human beings.

One of the most cited pioneers in the field of epidemiology was an English physician in the 1850s named John Snow. During his time, the overall belief among the medical community was that cholera was transmitted through miasma, a concept that was usually described as “bad humors.” During a cholera epidemic in London in 1853, he observed that cases tended to [Page 614]be clustered. He eventually recorded cases on a map and concluded that most cases of cholera had used the same water pump on Broad Street as their main water source. In a somewhat maverick approach, he removed the pump's handle and observed an overall reduction in the number of new cases of cholera. His findings were first rejected by the medical community but eventually received recognition for his findings.

Epidemics such as influenza, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis have inflicted millions across the globe.

Some other famous epidemiologists are Richard Doll, Austin Hill, Robert Frost, and Jonathan Lister. Dr. Doll and Dr. Hill were instrumental in linking the dangers of cigarette smoking and risks for lung cancer. Dr. Frost was well known for his work in tuberculosis as well as founding the first epidemiology program in the United States. Dr. Lister is renowned both for his work with infection transmission and control as well as for Listerine®, the antiseptic mouthwash. In more recent times, individuals who have aided in the evolution and education of the field include Leon Gordis, Kenneth Rothman, Sander Greenland, Robert Elston, James Robins, and David Kleinbaum.

Epidemiology began as a specialty within the medical profession, but epidemiologists are now trained independently of medical training in postgraduate programs, either in schools of public health or schools of medicine. The most common degrees awarded to individuals who wish to train in epidemiologic theory and practices are a master's of science or master's of health sciences (MS, MHS), master's in public health (MPH), a doctor of public health (DrPH), and a doctor of philosophy (PhD). The most common places to employ epidemiologists are governmental health departments, academic and research institutions, as well as private corporations such as pharmaceutical companies.