Before George R. R. Martin imagined a single character, well before HBO turned Game of Thrones into an international cultural phenomenon, there was another John Snow (15 March 1813 – 16 June 1858), the so-called father of epidemiology.
Dr. Snow’s work tracking who drank which water during cholera outbreaks both saved lives and helped discover how the disease was spread, just another day in the innovative life he led, combining spatial analysis, statistical mapping, and other meticulous methods to build the bedrock of modern epidemiology.
Those interested in helping solve problems, save lives, and create safe communities often gravitate toward a master’s in Public Health, wondering whether the experience and knowledge of professors in these MPH programs will be the key they need to unlock life’s next adventure.
Let’s begin by defining epidemiology and how it fits within the field of public health.
What is epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of disease at the societal level. Instead of treating individual patients, epidemiologists gather data to discover how and why disease spreads across communities.
Epidemiologists follow traditional scientific lines of inquiry, asking questions like:
- Who is affected by the disease/epidemic?
- What is happening to those infected?
- When is the outbreak occurring?
- Where are these patterns popping up?
- Why or how is the disease spreading and/or affecting other populations?
Incidentally, these are some of the same questions asked in MPH program classrooms, which then lead to interesting days on the job if you end up in professional epidemiology.
What do epidemiologists do?
An epidemiologist is part researcher, part detective, and several parts curious and courageous citizen. They spend their work hours discovering why disease is spreading, who it’s affecting, and how to stop it, alongside a team of other intrepid investigators.
In the day-to-day, epidemiologists spend their time typically doing the following:
- Collecting and analyzing information, including data from observations, interviews, surveys, and samples of blood or other bodily fluids, to find the causes of diseases or other health problems
- Communicating findings to health practitioners, policymakers, and the public
- Managing programs through planning, monitoring progress, and seeking ways to improve
- Planning and directing studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent them or to treat them if they arise
- Supervising professional, technical, and clerical personnel
- Writing grant proposals to fund research (from BLS 2026 data)
The good news is, you don’t have to learn these skills with any real lives at stake; the classroom is a risk-free place to practice. Many epidemiologists learn foundational skills in their MPH programs through group projects, integrated learning, and applied practical experiences.
Learn how UB’s MPH program prepares future public health leaders.
Why the field of epidemiology matters
The field of epidemiology sits at a near-literal crossroads of many critical pieces of information. Governments need to understand elements of epidemiology to write appropriate public health policies; doctors need to care for patients safely and lead healthcare teams; schools need to keep children out of harm’s way. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Epidemiologists ask the important questions: “How can we keep everyone safe and understand what’s happening?” Because of this, they’re in high professional demand.
The work Dr. Snow documented during the local cholera outbreak paved the way for modern disease study and response, including the development of vaccines, the discovery of local health hazards such as the Flint, MI, water crisis, and the establishment of organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Especially in today’s fast-paced world, with how much and how quickly humans travel both locally and internationally, it’s never been more important to understand that disease travels with us and in our wake.
What is the role of epidemiology in public health?
Foundational, to say the least.
The science of epidemiology, within the field of public health, intersects with policy, healthcare systems, and community health initiatives; it’s integral to any MPH program curriculum.
It’s not a stretch to say that public health without the study of epidemiology would be a vastly different, and far less effective, field than it is today. Epidemiology is the cornerstone of modern public health decision-making and the methods used to track and analyze patterns of disease and health outcomes, thanks to our buddy John Snow.
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A curiosity around epidemiology often leads to an interest in public health, since it’s difficult to imagine the field of public health any other way, which then brings many post-graduate students to exploring MPH programs as a natural next step.
The best master’s in Public Health programs include epidemiology as a core component, recognizing that it is an intricate web of information that connects us and keeps us safe.
Ready to take the next step toward a master’s in Public Health? Learn more or apply today.