Editing Epidemiology (section)

== The profession ==
Few universities have offered epidemiology as a course of study at the undergraduate level.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024|reason=This claim is unsourced and likely incorrect. For example, I personally know that more than a "few universities" offer undergraduate-level courses in epidemiology.}} An undergraduate program exists at [[Johns Hopkins University]] in which students who major in public health can take graduate-level courses—including epidemiology—during their senior year at the [[Bloomberg School of Public Health]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Health Studies|url=http://krieger.jhu.edu/publichealth/|website=Public Health Studies at Johns Hopkins|date=6 June 2013 |access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> In addition to its master's and doctoral degrees in epidemiology, the [[University of Michigan School of Public Health]] has offered undergraduate degree programs since 2017 that include coursework in epidemiology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meer |first=Jennifer |date=2017-09-04 |title=New school year marks beginning of undergraduate public health program |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/news/academics/sph-new-program/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The Michigan Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jerolimov |first=Anna |date=2024-01-16 |title=Undergrad Public Health Program expands for fall |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/news/undergraduate-public-health-program-expands-for-fall-2024/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The Michigan Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Although epidemiologic research is conducted by individuals from diverse disciplines, variable levels of training in epidemiologic methods are provided during [[Pharmacy school|pharmacy]], [[Medical education|medical]], [[Veterinary education|veterinary]], [[Social work#Theoretical models and practices|social work]], [[Podiatric medical school|podiatry]], [[Public health nursing|nursing]], [[Doctor of Physical Therapy#Professional degree (entry-level)|physical therapy]], and [[Psychologist#United States|clinical psychology]] doctoral programs in addition to the formal training master's and doctoral students in public health fields receive. 

As public health practitioners, epidemiologists work in a number of different settings. Some epidemiologists work "in the field" (i.e., in the community; commonly{{According to whom|date=July 2024}} in a public health service), and are often at the forefront of investigating and combating disease outbreaks.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024|reason=Why are epidemiologists working in the field often at the forefront of infectious disease outbreaks? I mean... I know the reason why, but the average reader might not.}} Others work for non-profit organizations, universities, hospitals, or larger government entities (e.g., state and local health departments in the United States), ministries of health, [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors without Borders]], the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC), the [[Health Protection Agency]], the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), or the [[Public Health Agency of Canada]]. Epidemiologists can also work in for-profit organizations (e.g., pharmaceutical and medical device companies) in groups such as market research or clinical development.

===COVID-19===
An April 2020 [[University of Southern California]] article noted that, "The [[coronavirus epidemic]]... thrust epidemiology – the study of the incidence, distribution and control of disease in a population – to the forefront of scientific disciplines across the globe and even made temporary celebrities out of some of its practitioners."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hiro |first1=Brian |title=Ask the Expert: The Epidemiology of COVID-19 |url=https://news.csusm.edu/ask-the-expert-deborah-morton/ |publisher=SCUSM |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref>