From genetic predisposition to social determinants of health
The Department of Epidemiology encompasses every facet of life that can affect a population’s health.
The fields covered by our department offer a different angle from which to assess and tackle pressing health issues affecting communities and populations. Our epidemiology students learn to bring the full context into view in order to understand the patterns and relationships in chronic and infectious diseases and other health outcomes such as injuries, aging, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health in populations. Epidemiology students can immerse themselves in a variety of topics, including nutrition, physical activity, tobacco control, and genomic research, to help guide decisions regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Welcome to the Department of Epidemiology. The faculty, students, staff, and alumni of Epidemiology have a shared mission to reduce the burden of disease in human populations. Our department accomplishes this goal through excellence in research, education, and service.
Although teaching and academic programs are the engines that drive our department, research is the fuel that keeps the intellectual engines running. Epidemiology is committed to excellence in research and affecting positive changes in the quality of health around the world. Some of our research enterprise is conducted in specialized research centers housed within the department. The Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) is committed to conquering the emerging infectious diseases that result from close contact between humans and other species or poor sanitation and inappropriate food handling. The Human Genetics Center (HGC) utilizes the latest genomic and multi-omic technology to understand the pathobiology of many common chronic diseases that plague human populations. The Center for Health Equity (CHE) is building sustainable solutions that promote health across diverse communities. Many of our faculty are affiliated with or collaborate with research centers in other departments. Our faculty contribute tremendously to epidemiologic research through these centers.
As you consider your options, I encourage you to explore our website and learn more about how our graduate programs can help launch you on the path to a successful public health career. For more information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Professor Alanna Morrison, PhD
Department Chair
Epidemiology
The foundation of public health.
Epidemiologists play a vital role in maintaining health and in disease prevention and control by studying the determinants and patterns of disease in populations. Through rigorous coursework, the Department of Epidemiology prepares our students to confront some of the most consequential health conditions affecting our local and global communities. Many faculty and graduates of our epidemiology programs are leading experts in chronic and infectious diseases, helping to extend life expectancy, advance health equity, improve quality of care, and pave the way for innovations in addressing future health events.
Epidemiology Research
We offer a supportive and thriving research culture, including many grant-funded projects and high-profile partnerships with other health and community organizations. Our department includes research centers within the department and collaborates with the Center for Infectious Diseases, the Human Genetics Center, and the Center for Health Equity on a wide range of topics.
Our research interests and efforts include a focus on the following areas, as well as many others:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Diabetes, and other Chronic Diseases
- Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Global Health
- Health Disparities
- Health Services and Outcomes Research
- Human Genetics
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology
- Injury and Occupational Health
- Mental Health
- Microbiology
- Nutrition & Obesity
- Pediatric, Perinatal & Reproductive Health
- Tobacco Control and Substance Use
Degree programs
The Department of Epidemiology offers the following degrees:
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Graduate Certificates offered
The Department of Epidemiology offers the following graduate certificates:
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Certificate
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Certificate
- Global Health Certificate
Genomics and Bioinformatics Certificate: This certificate is intended for professionals in academic, clinical, and research settings who are now or soon to be faced with genomic and related data. The goal is to enable a generation of investigators and academicians capable of integrating state-of-the-art genomic and related high-dimensional data seamlessly into population and personalized health research.
Coordinator: JR F. Bright, Academic & Admissions advisor II
Contact: [email protected]
Infectious Disease Epidemiology Certificate: This certificate is intended for students to gain skills and expertise in infectious disease epidemiology, covering fundamental concepts of infectious disease epidemiology, outbreak investigation, microbiology and immunology, and tropical infectious diseases. The goal is to prepare students for public health positions that require knowledge and expertise in infectious disease epidemiology.
Coordinators: Blake Hanson, PhD, and Eric Brown, PhD
Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
Global Health Certificate: This certificate is intended for students interested in exploring how globalization is affecting the determinants of health, the health status of the population, and the capacity of nation-states to deal with the determinants of health and disease. The goal is to prepare students for positions that involve public health decision-making and research in a changing world.
Coordinators: Lu-Yu Hwang, MD
Contact: [email protected]
Contact us
| Epidemiology Admissions | |
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JR F. Bright Epidemiology Academic and Admissions Advisor II |
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Eric L. Brown, PhD Epidemiology Faculty Admissions Representative |
Stay in Touch
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Epi in the News
Past Newsletters
- 2024
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2023
EHGES in the News December 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News November 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News October 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News September 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News August 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News July 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News June 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News May 2023 Edition
EHGES in the News April 2023 Edition
- 2022
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New research suggests the risk of Mendelian diseases in consanguinity populations
A new study co-led by Assistant Professor Zeynep Coban-Akdemir, PhD, at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and researchers from Baylor College of Medicine uncovered a link between occurrences of complex genetic disorders and inherited disease traits in a Turkish population with increased levels of consanguinity, a term referencing the theory of clan genomics, or, coming from the same ancestors.
Read MoreNew research suggests the risk of Mendelian diseases in consanguinity populations
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School of Public Health Ranked Top 25 Best Public Health School by U.S. News
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health has achieved top 25 ranking among 209 graduate schools of public health, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
Among publicly-funded institutions offering graduate-level degrees in public health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health ranks No. 9 nationally, and holds its position as No. 1 in Texas.
Read moreSchool of Public Health Ranked Top 25 Best Public Health School by U.S. News
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Heart healthy indicators and behaviors in adolescents linked to better cognitive function
Cardiovascular health behaviors and overall cardiovascular health were directly associated with adolescent brain development and cognitive function, according to UTHealth Houston research published recently in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity.
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Researchers Awarded $1.2 Million from AHA for Food is Medicine Research
The American Heart Association (AHA) awarded a cumulative $1.2 million to UTHealth Houston School of Public Health researchers to test the effectiveness of Food is Medicine interventions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
These awards are part of the AHA's $7.8 million national initiative to expand Food is Medicine projects under its Health Care by Food program. Public health researchers have embarked on groundbreaking efforts to enhance health outcomes by way of nutrition.
Read MoreResearchers Awarded $1.2 Million from AHA for Food is Medicine Research
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Sarnowski and BU School of Public Health Identify Novel Genetic Variants Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Assistant Professor Chloé Sarnowski, PhD, was the co-lead and corresponding author on a new study identifying the novel genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's disease in regions previously described as linked with the disease. Data collected from the study, done in collaboration with Boston University School of Public Health, can inform researchers of specific genetic variants that put people at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and tailor future treatment plans.
