The Epidemiology Department was organized to be one major focus of the College of Public Health to promote research and training in epidemiology, disease control and health care organization.

The major research thrust is to conduct high quality epidemiologic investigations that are at the forefront of scientific knowledge. The research is both theoretical and applied.

Training activities have several directions, which include developing qualified, independent research scientists in epidemiology at both the pre-and post-doctoral levels. There is also a focus of training health professionals and others to obtain basic epidemiologic, preventive and health care organizational skills for application in both clinical and community-based settings.

Current disease areas and fields of interest include:

• the epidemiology of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and diseases caused by the environment
• the epidemiology of infectious diseases, including emerging and zoonotic diseases
• nutrition epidemiology
• hospital epidemiology
• injury epidemiology
• the epidemiology of reproductive diseases
• the epidemiology of drug use and outcomes

There is also activity in the organization, finance and delivery of personal and public health services.