Epidemiologists are medical researchers sometimes known as disease detectives.
They study diseases. They focus on how and why diseases spread. Some also
study injuries.
They look at the big picture when it comes to health. Their focus is on
the health of the community, as opposed to individual patients.
"We study who it is that is being affected by these diseases, and also
what it is that might be causing the problem. Unlike medical doctors who advocate
on behalf of their individual patients, epidemiologists advocate on behalf
of whole communities," says Colin L. Soskolne. He is an epidemiologist and
professor.
First epidemiologists must observe patterns of disease or injury. Then
their goal is to pinpoint factors linked to those patterns. When they have
decided on common factors, they can start to explain how and why health problems
occur.
Epidemiologists are always asking questions. They need to determine who
is sick. Where do these people live? Did they travel? Where? What are the
symptoms of the illness? When did they get sick? What were they exposed to?
Did their habits change? Epidemiologists collect a lot of data and use statistics
to find answers. Math is very important to this career.
"We never talk without data," says Linda Cowan. She is an epidemiologist
and professor at the University of Oklahoma. She uses math every day to create
concrete evidence to support her research.
Anything that can make people sick or cause injury can be a target of study
for epidemiologists. Examples include cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's
disease, diabetes, hearing loss and depression. They can study the health
effects of lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet and smoking. They can
also study unintentional injuries such as injuries caused by traffic accidents.
For example, in the spring of 2008 there was an outbreak of salmonella
infections in the U.S. From mid-April to mid-June, over 220 people in 23 states
were diagnosed with the same type of salmonella. Epidemiologists jumped into
action. They interviewed the ill people to find out what they had been eating.
They were able to pinpoint raw tomatoes as the likely culprit. A message went
out to consumers, restaurants and retailers with the facts of the case and
which tomatoes were safe to eat.
Some epidemiologists work in post-secondary institutions as professors
or in other academic research facilities. There are also positions available
in government as scientists. Health agencies and medical institutions also
hire epidemiologists. Private industry jobs are also available, as scientists
at pharmaceutical companies, for example. Epidemiologists can also be self-employed,
working as consultants in the biomedical field.
Epidemiologists may work a traditional workweek, but most find they work
longer hours.
"We don't walk away from this, ever. It's always in your head and you're
always consumed by your work," says Cowan. Epidemiologists are not required
to be licensed physicians. However, some do laboratory tests that require
drugs to be administered to patients. In those cases, they must work closely
with licensed physicians.
A team approach is common in the field. Epidemiologists often work with
physicians, research methodologists, biostatisticians, industrial hygienists
or toxicologists. "It is thus important to bring a skill set to the table
to complement the team," says Soskolne.
This is a field of brain power, not physical power. Cowan says the only
requirement is a good brain. She adds that the only time epidemiologists with
physical limitations may be disadvantaged is during overseas travel. She has
done a lot of work in Africa. It required stamina, and the conditions were
challenging.