Epidemiologists focus on determining the occurrences and risk factors of disease, and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention and treatment of disease. This can include surveillance and monitoring, screening, establishing and administering intervention programs for prevention or treatment of diseases, designing studies for determining risk factors or the effectiveness of prevention approaches, and analyzing data.
Most epidemiologists choose particular areas of expertise, e.g., cardiovascular, reproductive, cancer, nutrition, hospital infections, genetic diseases, infectious disease, birth defects, based upon on their interests. The possibilities and approaches are endless.
Placement opportunities for epidemiology graduates include positions in local, state, and federal health agencies; academic departments within schools of public health or colleges of health sciences; pharmaceutical companies; and hospital and health systems.
Our graduates have been very successful in finding placements in the field. Here is a sampling of positions held by Epidemiology graduates who graduated within the past two years:
- Emerging Infections Surveillance Fellow, El Dorado (CA) Public Health Dept.
- Staff Epidemiologist, University of Iowa Epidemiology Department
- Biological Safety Professional, University of Iowa Health Protection Office
- HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Fellow, California Epidemiology Investigation Service
- Assistant Director, Research Injury Surveillance System, N.C.A.A.
- Epidemiologist, DeKalb County (Georgia), Board of Health
- Health Services Research and Development Fellow, VA Medical Center, Indianapolis
- Preventive and Community Dentistry Fellow, University of Iowa
- Epidemiologist, San Joaquin County (CA) Health Dept.
- Disease Prevention Specialist, Johnson County (IA) Public Health Dept.
- Medical Epidemiologist, Virology Research, U.S. Navy, Cairo, Egypt