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EPIDEMIOLOGY

Advance public health through research and education 

Globally, there is a critical need for epidemiologists now and in the future. Our priority is educating and preparing students to meet this need. We strive to advance knowledge on the causes, prevention, and control of disease to improve public health and reduce health inequities through research, education, and policy.

Improving Our Everyday 

Make a difference in public health by advancing knowledge on the causes of diseases and the promotion of health through research and education. The department of epidemiology (EPI) has distinguished faculty committed to excellence in teaching and research. Our department benefits from the expertise of about 45 primarily appointed faculty, over 60 jointly appointed faculty, and over 40 adjunct faculty. From day one, students receive one-on-one advisement from faculty and department staff eager to guide them on their public health journey at Rollins.

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Exceptional practicum experiences and career opportunities 

Studying epidemiology in Atlanta, a hub for public health, provides unique opportunities for students to apply learning to a variety of professional settings as part of their Rollins experience. Opportunities are both global and local and include:  

  • American Cancer Society 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta  
  • Deloitte 
  • Kaiser Permanente 
  • The Carter Center 
  • The Task Force for Global Health  

Within the department, we are focused on training the next generation of influential public health professionals. We incorporate professionalism and soft skills into the curriculum to prepare our students for successful and influential public health careers. 

Gain skills necessary to be an influential public health professional. 

"I have been able to collaborate with an amazing professor from the Epidemiology and Global Epidemiology department. I was able to reach out and connect to this faculty member and asked him to be my thesis mentor. He has given me tasks such as IRB proposals, survey assessment, survey creation and distribution. My thesis involves data collection and funding, so this entire process is a real-world example of the kind of work that goes into data collection, analyzing, and interpretation of EPI surveillance project."

Andrea Torres, MPH ’23, Epidemiology

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Learn from a diverse group of faculty committed to health equity.

Collaboration is essential for public health and is an integral component of our department. Students often collaborate with faculty, epidemiologists, and scientists within our affiliated research centers. 

Meet Our Faculty
Timothy L. Lash, DSc, MPH— Professor and Epidemiology Chair
“There is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done to protect and advance public health. Epidemiology—as a critical science of public health—contributes the research findings and descriptive data necessary to drive the public health mission forward. 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.”
Timothy L. Lash, DSc, MPH
Professor and Epidemiology Chair
Sarita Shah, MD, Professor
“We’re really lucky at Emory with our networks to have a huge pool of trainees looking for mentors. The interest in infectious disease epidemiology has skyrocketed over the past several years, so there’s a critical need for mentors with expertise in this area.” 
Sarita Shah, MD
Professor
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“The response to the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the central role of outbreak analytics for informing public health decision-making. But, despite rapid advances in the field, the pandemic exposed the wide gap that remains between analytical methodology and the on-the-ground realities of an emergency. The Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling & Analytics and Training Hub (CIDMATH) will work closely with the CDC and community partners to design, implement, and refine new and enhanced analytical tools, to generate critical novel data streams and provide training for multiple levels of the infectious disease epidemiology and modeling community.” 
Benjamin Lopman, PhD
Professor

Research is at our core

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 science. Students have the opportunity to engage in research projects in such areas as:

Depression and cardiovascular outcomes 

Disparities in breast cancer mortality  

Environmental exposures 

Infectious disease modeling  

Nutrition and physical activity  

Social epidemiology 

 

Epidemiology News

Allison Chamberlain Named Director of Research and Practice Relations with DPH 

January 11, 2024

Allison Chamberlain has taken on a new role as Director of Research and Practice Partnerships with the Georgia Department of Public Health at Rollins. 

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Vaccinations Lag as Respiratory Viruses Surge 

January 9, 2024

National trends are pointing to an increase in COVID, flu, and RSV cases in the weeks ahead. Despite this, vaccination rates are alarming low. Dr. Ben Lopman shares insights on behavior trends and emphasizes the importance of vaccines. 

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Better Data Needed to Prevent Maternal and Infant Deaths 

December 15, 2023

Data gaps can help address the maternal mortality crisis and infant deaths in the U.S. Rollins researchers weigh in.

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