Are you interested in the future of epidemiology?

The Epidemiology Section and the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology will sponsor a special session on this topic on Monday, Oct.  27, 2008, 12:30 - 2 p.m. in Room 7A of the San Diego Convention Center.

You’ve doubtless heard that a few very vocal critics have suggested that epidemiology departments should be closed because epidemiology is no longer useful in the 21st century.  They argue that we have found all that we can find using what they view as  increasingly limited epidemiologic methods. Even the New York Times months back raised doubts about the usefulness of epidemiologic studies. On top of this, the NIH seems to be paying limited attention to epidemiology in its future planning and funding. 

Is epidemiology becoming a limited, less useful tool for informing public health and clinical sciences and public policy or will it remain fundamental set of methods necessary for public health?  What do you think the future looks like?

This symposium will examine the challenges and opportunities facing the field of epidemiology in the next 10 years. A panel of distinguished epidemiologists will present their views. 

Panelists include:

Robert A. Hiatt, MD, PhD, professor and co-chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).  He is also director of Population Science and deputy director of the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center and a senior scientist for the national Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland. Dr. Hiatt will discuss the role of epidemiology in uniting scientists, professionals and others in a transdisciplinary problem-solving approach to important health and health care problems.

Elizabeth A. Bancroft, MD, SM, medical epidemiologist at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.  She obtained her medical degree from Cornell University and a masters in clinical epidemiology from Harvard.  She is a graduate of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service and board certified in Preventive Medicine.  She currently specializes in infectious disease and disability epidemiology.  She is a member of the APHA Science Board. Dr. Bancroft will discuss the challenges facing epidemiologists at local health departments as emphasis changes from infectious diseases to chronic diseases. 

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD, distinguished professor and division chief of epidemiology in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.  She is a past chair of the Epidemiology Section of the APHA. Dr. Barrett-Connor will speak about future considerations in nutritional epidemiology, particularly issues related to obesity.

Roberta Ness, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh.  She will become dean of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's School of Public Health on Jan. 1, 2009.  She is the immediate past chair of the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology, and the president-elect of the American College of Epidemiology. Dr. Ness will discuss recommendations for future development of the field of epidemiology. 

The session will be moderated by Ruth Etzel, MD, PhD, from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, D.C.  Come to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing epidemiology and participate in a dialogue about strategies for the future. Audience participation is strongly invited.