Reacting to the Past: London: Epidemiology and Public Health

Plague doctors, known for their unsettling masks and dark suits, were a mixed blessing in the war against disease. Some were charlatans, many were simple bureaucrats, and others worked tirelessly to cure and comfort the diseased. (Image by Wikimedia Commons)

Hippocrates, regarded by many as the father of medicine, made vast contributions to human health and quality of life. (Image by PBS)

"Epidemiology is the study of patterns of disease and injury in human populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems. Epidemiologists study the variation of disease in relation to age, sex, race, occupational and social characteristics, place of residence, susceptibility, exposure to specific agents or other pertinent characteristics. Epidemiologists develop and evaluate hypotheses about the effects on human health of hereditary, behavioral, environmental, and health care factors, and develop the knowledge basis for disease prevention and control programs."

-University of Colorado School of Public Health

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Interested in a career in epidemiology? Take the quiz and find your place in the field! (Image by Medical Research Council)

Almost two centuries after John Snow's death, one PHD student takes a look at how much epidemiology has changed. (Image by Ted Blogs)