Faculty
Curriculum
Course Descriptions
MPH Degree
PhD Program
Student Handbook
Research Projects
LSUHSC Catalog
Employment Opportunities
Epidemiology Student Travel Grant
Epidemiology Degree Planning Forms
EPID Admissions FAQs
Analytic Center
LSU SPH Epidemiology
Mission
The mission of the LSU SPH Epidemiology program is to advance the understanding of disease distributions and the determinants of health and disease risk in human populations by developing the tools for prevention and control, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities and eliminating health disparities. We achieve this through excellence in research, education, and service.
Vision
To be a leader in improving population health through innovative approaches in epidemiologic research, teaching, and service which address health disparities.
Goals
As a leader in the field, the Program aims to:
- Provide high quality education and training in the principles and practice of modern epidemiology.
- Advance Public Health’s theoretical and empirical foundation through rigorous multidisciplinary and innovative epidemiological research.
- Provide leadership and service in epidemiology through international, national, state, and local community collaborations.
What is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, serving as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is considered a cornerstone methodology of public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice.
What Do Epidemiologists Do?
Epidemiologists work on issues ranging from the practical, such as outbreak investigation, environmental exposure, and health promotion, to the theoretical, including the development of statistical, mathematical, philosophical, biological, and psychosocial theory. To this end, epidemiologists employ a range of study designs from the observational to the experimental, to reveal unbiased relationships between exposures such as tobacco, nutrition, biological agents, stress, or chemicals to outcomes such as disease, wellness and other health indicators. Defining diseases, drawing disease causal chains, and formulation of health strategy are important aspects of epidemiology.
Epidemiologists work in a variety of settings. Some work in the community, commonly in a public health service, and are often at the forefront of investigating and combating disease outbreaks. Others work for non-profit organizations, universities, and larger government entities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Contact Information
Director of Admission for Epidemiology:
Mei-Chin Hsieh, PhD, MSPH
Email: epid_admissions@lsuhsc.edu