American College of Epidemiology  What do epidemiologists do?

Epidemiologists come from a variety of backgrounds and specialize in many types of health research.  Within academic instititutions, research topics include infectious diseases, chronic diseases, cancer, reproductive and perinatal epi, cardiovascular disease, occupational and environmental epi, clinical epi, genetics, and more.  In addition to research, each state government maintains departments of health that perform surveillance and prevention work while the federal government conducts much health research and investigation at agencies affiliated with the Public Health Service.  Epidemiologists study an unlimited number of conditions that influence health from academic, governmental, and private industry positions:

•   The role of state and local health departments

•   The responsibilities of the Public Health Service

•   Research and response to health threats around the globe