In modern societies, epidemiologic evidence influences almost every aspect of daily life. We bathe, brush our teeth, eat vitamin-fortified foods, fasten our safety belts, use protective equipment at work, count screen time and calories consumed, and avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol. We put infants to sleep on their backs, practice safe sex, desire to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and decry inequities in the distribution of wealth. These daily routines and others are substantially influenced by epidemiologic research.
There is still a tremendous amount of work to do to protect and advance public health. Epidemiology—as a critical science of public health—contributes the research findings and descriptive data that drive the public health mission. The Department of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health is committed to this mission. Our students, scientists and staff engage in research and public health practice programs spanning the breadth of critical public health problems. Our research portfolio covers areas from infectious diseases to chronic diseases, from molecular epidemiology to social determinants of health, and from foundational early research to implementation sciences.
We invite you to explore our degree programs: Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Rollins also collaborates in several dual degree programs. The Department of Epidemiology’s degree programs ensure that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and philosophy to affect positive change in the public’s health and with the professional skills to achieve career success.
Atlanta is the public health capital of the world, with vibrant public health scholarship and practice. Our partners include neighbors like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, the Carter Center, and many other academic, government and private-sector organizations. If you are interested in using epidemiology to improve public health, we encourage you to join us.
Timothy L. Lash, DSc, MPH
Rollins Professor and Chair