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[aislinamara]

In what settings do epidemiologists primarily work?  Are they primarily in urban settings, or can they work in more rural areas?

Also, has anyone heard anything about East Tennessee State University's MPH in Epidemiology?  Good? Bad?

Thanks!

Comments

[2morrows]

I think it depends the type of Epidemiology you are into. For example, Vector-borne Disease Epidemiologists (like myself) often study malaria and other illnesses in remote locations in Africa, South America, etc. If you're a Chronic Disease Epidemiologist studying obesity in inner-city schools, then that would be urban. If you're an Epidemiologist who deals mainly with numbers/data sets (i.e. no field work) then you could work in either an urban or remote environment. Hope that sort of answers your question?

[shikamboo]

I want your job! Someday I'll go back to school...

[aislinamara]

Thanks. That does answer my question.

[brbrbrad]

Here in North Carolina, most people with "Epidemiologist" in their job titles are either in Raleigh or Charlotte, the two biggest metro areas in the state. But there are also a number of people with M(S)PHs in Epidemiology working as administrators (e.g. grantwriter or division head) or Health Directors in Health Departments (including rural ones), or similar roles in non-profit organizations. Hospitals are also hiring people with infection control backgrounds to help tackle hospital-acquired infections.

Overall there's a LOT of demand for people who know their ways around both health and numbers. I got my MPH in Global Health, but I've ended up working as a Health Data Analyst in a rural health department simply because I know my way around a database. Also, rural areas are a bit easier to find work in because you're probably not going to be competing with a bunch of other masters-level people. This includes rural counties just outside major metro centers.

[aislinamara]

This was honestly my biggest worry. I am not good with crowds or large cities. I'm also a bit too fond of vegetation to work in a major metropolitan area. I don't want to go into a field where I'll have to live in one to find a job.

[diseaso]

I hope you are like Atlanta, GA. The Mecca of all epidemiology jobs.