Epidemiology is a field where trained epidemiologists study patterns of frequency and the causes and effects of diseases in human populations. Epidemiology provides the scientific footings for evidence-based medicine and allows the placement of strategies for improvement in public health.

Epidemiologists imply to the professionals in the field of medicine. However, they are different from doctors (Kaye et al., 2015). Through description, epidemiologists work mainly in regulated settings from a laboratory. In case of an epidemic or disease outbreak, epidemiologists would go to the field and carry out investigations concerning the disease-causing agents then guide the authorities concerning the appropriate control measures (Bartolucci et al., 2019).

Epidemiologists would also collect the disease-causing microorganisms for an additional examination based on a lab setting where the environment stays controlled and contained. Besides, epidemiologists’ work remains vital even in the absence of crisis because they conduct investigations whose findings help predict the anticipated disease outbreaks (Kaye et al., 2015). Based on the study findings by epidemiologists, epidemiologists may play an influential role in predicting suitable control measures in case of an outbreak.

Definition of epidemiology

Epidemiology refers to a field of medicine where trained epidemiologists research the trends of prevalence, effects, and causes of infection across the human population (Kaye et al., 2015). The study of epidemiology offers the scientific basis of evidence-grounded medicine while allowing the placement of plans for improving the prevailing conditions of public health. Additionally, epidemiology is the footing of the present-day study of public health practice and research that depends on social sciences, biology, and biostatistics.

Who Is an Epidemiologist?

An epidemiologist investigates disease outbreaks, locations, and how different people are impacted with relative support from information that facilitates the prevention of the anticipated outbreaks. Epidemiologists support maintaining continuous awareness to the people concerning the strategies to sustain while advancing joint health (Kaye et al., 2015).

An epidemiologist operates for governmental organizations and universities.  Epidemiologists’ role is more than those we can imagine.  From a usual man white lab coat working on Petri dishes and microscopes. Various disease specializations are based on epidemiology. For instance, an epidemiologist for heart disease would go into the field focusing on a particular population.

The pathologist would then collect different samples, usually comparing diverse age demographics (Kaye et al., 2015). Their primary objective is to identify the risk factors and the probable outcomes for diverse age groups. At the same time, some epidemiologists research diseases. Others investigate the impact of medications on patients alongside drugs’ efficiency on diseases. Usually, while studying the effects of drugs, epidemiologists base their investigations on both the long and short term effects.

Additionally, other epidemiologists draw their attention to the means through which diseases are transmitted from one individual to another, how they infect people, and their effects on the environment (Bartolucci et al., 2019).  This entails both the impact of the infections themselves in addition to their community. Remarkably, field epidemiologists operate in partnership with infectious disease epidemiologists in the lab while establishing vaccines. Collectively, they collaborate with epidemiologists to identify how pathogens relate to the body besides the effects of a given vaccine.

What do epidemiologists do?

Epidemiologists evaluate their research findings to develop appropriate methods of responding to a public health issue or a health-related risk. An epidemiologist must be accurate and precise in the examination of the study findings. They operate with quantitative and qualitative research methods throughout their work.

An epidemiologist would gather and examine data to research on various health concerns. For instance, epidemiologists would gather while analyzing population information to identify the population at risk for a specific infection (Bartolucci et al., 2019).  Applied epidemiologists collaborate with the administrations as they address health concerns directly. On the other hand, research epidemiology work in hand with universities to address both the prevailing and the anticipated health issues.

Even though epidemiology is heavily based on infectious diseases, epidemiologists also conduct investigations on other infections. An epidemiologist operates from private industry is usually under pharmaceutical or health insurance companies. Most importantly to note is that, based on epidemiology, the private organizations are delegated to public advocacy work.

What Are the Qualities of an Epidemiologist?

Most an epidemiologist has different personalities. Epidemiologists tend to be research people, an implication that they are inquisitive, intellectual, and introspective (Sreeramoju et al. 2021). They are logical, rational, methodical, curious, and analytical. As an epidemiologist, one is required to have practical social value. Therefore, epidemiologists are helpful, generous, caring, friendly, patient, and kind (Sreeramoju et al., 2021). Generally, these personalities play an influential role in epidemiologists’ study because they enhance a functional interaction with the community members.

In conclusion, an epidemiologist is a specialist in medicine whose role is to conduct investigations concerning a health issue. Epidemiologists usually gather and inspect data from different demographics to identify and address various health issues from a given population.  They use their study findings to determine the appropriate control measures of an anticipated infection.  On the other hand identifying the people at high risk of infection. Also, epidemiologists must have unique personalities that lead to practical socialization with the community members.