About
Edward Peters, DMD, ScD, Department Chair, Professor
I want to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the UNMC College of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology.
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution, causes, and prevention of disease in human populations– it’s often called the basic science of public health. At UNMC, the epidemiology department educates and prepares practitioners and researchers to improve health worldwide in positions in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academia.
Our department is the leading provider of epidemiology and preparedness training for the public health workforce in Nebraska and the Great Plains region. We are a growing faculty actively engaged in contemporary methodological and collaborative epidemiological research and practice. Faculty, staff, and students in the UNMC Department of Epidemiology conduct research and teach on various social, environmental, and behavioral exposures. We focus on infectious diseases, cancer, genetics, psychiatric, environmental epidemiology, and applied research and practice in preparedness and disaster solutions.
The Epidemiology Department is home to the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness & Emerging Infectious Diseases and the proposed Center for Cancer Prevention and Population Science.
We are committed to enriching the academic experience for our talented students, empowering them with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to address current and future public health challenges. We are dedicated to training the next generation of epidemiologists and preparedness professionals with comprehensive, rigorous, and modern educational experience. The department is home to five graduate degree programs. The MPH and DrPH in Epidemiology, an MPH and DrPH in Preparedness, and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology. In addition, we offer certificates in Infectious disease epidemiology and emergency preparedness.
Edward Peters, DMD, ScD
Department Chair & Professor
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is a key scientific discipline of public health that provides essential insights into understanding the patterns, causes, and effects of diseases and other health-related events within populations. Epidemiology applies this knowledge to control and prevent disease and helps inform evidence-based public health practices and policies.
This dynamic and evolving field utilizes various study designs and statistical methods to investigate the associations between exposures and health outcomes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of epidemiologists will grow 26% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than average.
Goals of Epidemiology
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness is a relatively new career field. Preparedness professionals work to ensure that a community and its health infrastructure is protected from emergencies such as infectious diseases (emerging or re-emerging), severe weather, climate change, targeted violence, and other threats.
Effective preparedness requires close collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders, including government agencies, emergency responders, public health, healthcare systems, community organizations, and the public. This field is crucial for minimizing the impact of public health emergencies and protecting the well-being of communities.