An Epidemiologist search for the cause of disease, identify people who are at risk, determine how to control or stop the spread or prevent it from happening again.
Below is How To Become An Epidemiologist In South Africa
Epidemiologists look at medical, social, environmental and economic factors when determining the causes of problems. There are many different aspects that epidemiologists can study, for example:
environmental epidemiologists study the links between environmental exposure and disease, such as between radon gas and lung cancer
public health epidemiologists work on issues ranging from alcohol and drug abuse, to communicable diseases and mental health
infectious disease epidemiologists deal with the factors which cause disease in the population.
Epidemiologists spend most of their time researching statistics and ‘crunching’ numbers to conduct statistical analysis of their data. They must have an interest in and knowledge of a wide range of topics, as everything from environmental to social factors influences their work.
Personal Requirements to Become An Epidemiologist In South Africa
have excellent research and organizational skills
logical, enjoy analysing data
good with numbers and able to interpret statistical data
have good writing skills to write detailed reports and papers on their research
have an inquiring mind
How to Enter
Schooling & School Subjects
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Science
Recommended subjects: Life Sciences
Additional:
Pass matric with a Bachelor’s pass
Meet the admission requirements (APS) set by the university
All applications for admission to MBChB and Medical degrees are subject to selection.
Due to the limited number of spaces available, only a small percentage of applicants are admitted.
What to Study
Degree: most epidemiologists start out first qualifying in medicine, nursing or a related health field and then go on to study epidemiology or health statistics at a graduate level. Many epidemiologists specialise in a particular area of research; for example, communicable diseases or alcoholism.
Postgraduate: to become an epidemiologist one needs at least a masters degree in epidemiology or health statistics. Although it is not essential, some epidemiologists go on to complete PhDs. Wits, for example, offers a MSc in Epidemiology.
Employment
public health
government and environmental agencies
hospitals
some private research organizations
universities, lecturing to students
hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities
private practice
What qualifications do I need to be an epidemiologist?
You’ll usually need a postgraduate degree, either a Masters or a PhD, in epidemiology or a related subject, such as public health, statistical science or biological science, to work as an epidemiologist.
How many epidemiologists are there in South Africa?
Overall, SAFETP graduates working in South Africa account for 0.212 epidemiologists per 200,000 population
What do you study in epidemiology in South Africa ?
By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).
Do epidemiologists go to medical school in South Africa ?
An epidemiologist is not required to have a doctor of medicine degree. Some epidemiologists are licensed physicians; however, this isn’t required for most positions.
Is epidemiology a good career?
Epidemiology is a very important career. However, there is the general idea that epidemiologists are statisticians who work in a government office crunching numbers to find patterns in health related problems.
Is a Epidemiologist a doctor?
No. While epidemiologists study and investigate the causes and sources of diseases in much the same way as medical doctors, they’re not considered actual physicians.
Do epidemiologists work in hospitals?
Epidemiologists work in offices and laboratories, usually at health departments for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities.
Are epidemiologists happy?
Epidemiologists rate their happiness above average. At Career Explorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, epidemiologists rate their career happiness 3.4 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 38% of careers.
Can epidemiologists work from home?
These institutions require that you physically be at your place of employment. Fortunately, some employers will hire epidemiologists to work from home making this one of the advantages of being an epidemiologist.