Public Health was defined by C-E.A. Winslow as the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts with the goal of enabling every citizen to realize his/her birthright of health and longevity.
The disciplines of epidemiology and biostatistics are essential to achieving the goals of public health, and combining these two disciplines in a single department creates synergies for both training and research. Epidemiologists study the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. Biostatisticians develop and apply statistical theory, methods and techniques to public health research data and the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs. Given the strong overlap, epidemiologists and biostatisticians often collaborate to work toward the shared goal of generating and analyzing data to advance the public’s health.
Within the department, the degree programs are administered under two separate streams, the Division of Epidemiology and Division of Biostatistics.
Find out more about the department and what we offer in our welcome from the Chair.
We offer eight advanced degrees in epidemiology and biostatistics. Each graduate degree has specific application deadlines and requirements.
Melissa Nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology, and Virginie Daguise, director of DHEC’s Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, are launching a new representative testing strategy to prospectively assess and monitor COVID-19 within South Carolina.
Lauren Reid is interested in how food insecurity affects people with diabetes. Her dissertation research focuses on how food insecurity is associated with glycemic control, physical activity and diet quality of youth and young adults with diabetes.
With epidemiology associate professor Jim Burch serving as mentor, Mercadel will use the three-year grant to support his dissertation research examining the role of circadian factors in inflammation and colorectal adenoma risk.
Just one year into his Ph.D. in Epidemiology program, Gabriel Benavidez has added another layer to his training and education. He was recently selected to join the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program.
Liese will serve as principal investigator for the South Carolina-based component ($1.25 million) of the nationwide $15 million, five-year project assessing the burden of diabetes by type in children, adolescents and young adults known as DiCAYA.
Jan Eberth, who is an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the director of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, will serve as president-elect during the 2020-2021 year and then president from 2021-2022.