Readying the Applied Epidemiology Workforce for Emerging Areas of Public Health Practice. 2022

Elizabeth R Daly, and Jessica Arrazola, and Karl Umble
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Drs Daly and Umble); New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, New Hampshire (Dr Daly); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Arrazola).

Epidemiologists are key professionals within the public health workforce. As the role of public health agencies changes over time, epidemiologists will need to adapt and develop new skill sets to work in emerging areas of (public health) practice (EAoPs), which are areas of practice that are new or are growing in interest and use. This mixed-methods research study sought to explore the role and readiness of state health department epidemiologists in the United States to work in EAoPs. Three phases of data collection and analysis were conducted including secondary analysis of the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey, a survey of the designated state epidemiologist in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and focus groups with early-, mid-, and senior-career epidemiologists working in state health departments. Fifty state health departments and the District of Columbia. Epidemiologists working in state health departments. Identification of EAoPs relevant to epidemiologists, the role of epidemiologists in these EAoPs, and readiness of epidemiologists to work in EAoPs. Participant state health department epidemiologists indicated that the studied EAoPs were important to their work and that epidemiologists have some role in them. Key facilitators identified to working in EAoPs included supportive organizational strategy and leadership, dedicated time for training and work, cross-training across programs, and the development of crosscutting skills. There is much opportunity for epidemiologists to be more engaged in current EAoPs. Not only can epidemiologists supply relevant data but they can also bring skills and expertise to help improve the overall success of population health improvement work. Workforce development strategies should be implemented to ensure a nimble epidemiology workforce that can readily adapt to the needs of future public health practice.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011634 Public Health Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of disease and disability, and the promotion of physical and mental health of the population on the international, national, state, or municipal level. Community Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine & Public Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine and Public Health,Health, Community,Health, Public
D011635 Public Health Administration Management of public health organizations or agencies. Administration, Public Health
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D004813 Epidemiology Field concerned with the determination of causes, incidence, and characteristic behavior of disease outbreaks affecting human populations. It includes the interrelationships of host, agent, and environment as related to the distribution and control of disease. Social Epidemiology,Epidemiologies, Social,Epidemiology, Social,Social Epidemiologies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072158 Epidemiologists Qualified medical professionals who study the causes, incidence, and characteristic behavior of disease outbreaks or other health-related conditions and determine the interrelationships of hosts, agents, and environment related to the distribution and control of diseases. Epidemiologist
D000078329 Workforce The number of people working or available for work or service. Human Resources,Labor Supply,Manpower,Staffing,Womanpower,Human Resource,Labor Supplies,Manpowers,Staffings,Supply, Labor,Womanpowers,Workforces
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D015980 Public Health Practice The activities and endeavors of the public health services in a community on any level. Health Practice, Public,Health Practices, Public,Practice, Public Health,Practices, Public Health,Public Health Practices

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