Epidemiology is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why. It is “the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).”
Epidemiology is often focused on disease, however, it also includes other health concerns such as:
An epidemiologist is a public health worker who is responsible for investigating patterns in illness and injury. The role of the epidemiologist often includes:
The end goal of the epidemiologist is to reduce negative health outcomes while increasing positive health outcomes in the communities that they serve.
