Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of how disease is distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine disease distribution.

Epidemiologists are known as "disease detectives," using the scientific methods of problem solving to get to the root of health problems in a community.

Epidemiologists use specific methods to tackle problems such as measles outbreak on a small college campus or a global influenza pandemic, an increase in suicide in a single community, a surge in violence, or a localized or widespread rise in cancer.

Epidemiologists conduct investigations of changing or emerging health issues and provide assessment data and community health reports to the community and public health officials.

Information collected by and generated from epidemiologists is used to plan and evalute strategies to prevent disease and guide care management for persons who already have the disease.