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.
Director:
Dr. Robert Moran, Graduate Director for Biostatistics
Directors:
Amanda Elmore graduates with her Ph.D. in Epidemiology this month and researches how social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences and trauma influence health outcomes in each stage of the mother-infant dyad.
Sabrina Karim's August graduation is more than a celebration of the physician notching a 4.0 in two programs, but another step towards overcoming the personal challenges she has faced and pursuing her passion for improving maternal and child health.
UofSC features biostatistics professor Jiajia Zhang, who won a 2022 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award for her contributions to advancing cancer, HIV and COVID treatment/outcomes by harnessing the power of big data.
Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology graduate Nyrobi Tyson is pursuing a career combining her experiences as a doula and public health researcher to close the racial maternal morbidity and mortality gap.
Chronicling the evolution of inflammatory and immune response systems across history up to the present day's most recent scientific findings, this book discusses the causes and mechanisms that link a pro-inflammatory diet to a wide variety of human health problems.
In her role as program coordinator for the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Emily Writer supports the graduate directors with admissions and degree progression and is a key contributor to the success of its six graduate degree programs.
Two years after Nolan and her team partnered with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and Clemson University to launch the state's first tick surveillance program, the assistant professor has been awarded $585K to expand their efforts.