Career in Epidemiology Course in India: Epidemiology is the biology of public health, and the one who practices Epidemiology is known as an Epidemiologist. Unlike a pathologist or any such doctor concerned about an individual patient, an Epidemiologist is concerned about the health condition of a community or a group of people. In this article, we will try to give you an insight into the Career in Epidemiology in India and the different Epidemiologist jobs available after doing Epidemiology courses.
A clinician or a doctor focuses on treating the disease and is less concerned with other factors. But on the other hand, an epidemiologist looks more at the causes of a disease. They collect data about the disease and the people affected by it. Then, they work on finding ways to prevent the disease in the future. If you want to learn more about epidemiology and what an epidemiologist does, keep reading this article.
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What is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is a branch of public health that examines the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in specific groups of people. The word “epidemiology” comes from three parts: “Epi” means on or upon, “demos” means people or public, and “logos” means study. It involves research and the use of probability and statistics.
The study or research is conducted based on two factors: distribution and determinant. Distribution is an aggregation of frequency that states many health events in a particular population and pattern that describes details regarding the time, place and person of a particular health event. The causes and risk factors for the disease or health condition are analyzed through determinants.
What is it like to be an Epidemiologist?
Although epidemiology is a branch of medical science, it is very similar to a profession that involves investigation. Epidemiologists often see themselves as detectives because their work involves a lot of research and finding solutions. An Epidemiologist has to travel a lot and interact with professionals from other fields. An old saying is that an Epidemiologist should have a clear mind and dirty hands. It is completely wrong to define the career of an Epidemiologist as boring since a day in the life of an Epidemiologist means endless projects.
Epidemiology Courses in India
To work as an Epidemiologist or to make a career in Epidemiology, one can earn a degree in the following Epidemiology courses.
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Epidemiology | 2 years |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology | 1 year |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology | 3 years |
Eligibility Criteria
- For admission to MSc in Epidemiology, candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in epidemiology or related to medicine with a minimum of 55% marks.
- For admission to post graduate diploma in epidemiology, candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine.
Top Colleges in India Offering Career in Epidemiology
Here is a list of some of the top colleges in India Offering Career in Epidemiology.
| College Name | State |
|---|---|
| Christian Medical College | Tamil Nadu |
| Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University | Maharashtra |
| SRM University, Kattankulathur | Chennai |
| Homi Bhabha National Institute | Mumbai |
| Indian Institute of Technology | Gandhinagar |
| Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences | Patna |
Job Opportunities
There are many career options for an epidemiologist. An Epidemiologist can work in public health sector or health protection services, helping to protect and improve people’s health. If someone enjoys teaching, they can also work as a teacher at universities.
There are a lot of non-profit as well as profit organizations, such as medical device or pharmaceutical companies, that offer job positions for Epidemiologists. Government organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or hospitals offer career opportunities every year.
Job profile
- Community Health Workers
- Public Health Epidemiologist
- Supervisory Epidemiologist
- Speciality Epidemiologists
- Statisticians and Surveyors
Roles of an Epidemiologist
- Develop and implement methods and systems for acquiring, compiling, synthesising, extracting and reporting information.
- Provide statistical insight into the interpretation and discussion of study results.
- Provide critical analysis and thinking, advice and recommendations on issues based on accepted scientific understanding of infectious and emerging diseases in a global context.
- Contribute to study reports, either by writing the report or managing others.
- Collaborate with government agencies and other global health partners to assist in the development of positions and recommendations on key policy issues.
- Assist in formulating progress reports and related documents to assess programme progress.
- Maintain focus and delivery against commercial objectives, especially in the private sector.
Skills of an Epidemiologist
- The ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological data.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly.
- Strong IT skills, including experience using database software such as Access/SQL, spreadsheets, and statistical and graphics packages.
- The ability to work independently and take responsibility for your work and time.
- Problem-solving skills to identify and find solutions to day-to-day practical problems.
- Experience in creating and giving presentations to groups of internal and external stakeholders.
- High levels of numeracy combined with analytical skills.
Average Salary
| Job Profile | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Community Health Workers | 6.45 LPA |
| Public Health Epidemiologist | 6.70 LPA |
| Supervisory Epidemiologist | 8.65 LPA |
| Speciality Epidemiologists | 7.30 LPA |
| Statisticians and Surveyors | 5.55 LPA |
Top Recruiters
| Government and Private Hospitals | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry |
| Government Health Department | NGOs |
| National and Global Disease Control Centre | National and Global Medical Control Centre |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the scope of epidemiology in India?
An Epidemiologist has multiple scopes. Since the profession is concerned with public health, an Epidemiologist can work under public health or health protection services.
Is epidemiology a good career?
Epidemiology is a good career as candidates have many job opportunities and can work in government or private hospitals, the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry etc.
Is epidemiologist in demand?
Recent infectious disease outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have meant a growing awareness of the importance of having knowledgeable and experienced epidemiologists in the workforce. With that increased awareness comes increased demand for more roles in the field.
