Augusta University sees spike in epidemiology program interest

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As we wade out of this pandemic, lots of our native medical college students are discovering they’re not prepared to go away all of it behind.

Augusta College says its epidemiology program is taking off, giving college students the possibility to check epidemics and pandemics on a deeper stage.

This system started within the fall of 2021, with solely 4 college students enrolled. Because the June 15 deadline approaches, candidates have doubled.

Leaders with this system say they began working to create this system effectively earlier than COVID-19, however the pandemic highlighted the necessity and certain elevated the curiosity.

“COVID may play a job as a result of now we have a worry issue and keep in mind latest occasions very effectively,” mentioned Dr. Okay.M. Islam, affiliate professor of epidemiology and public well being, MCG.

As medical doctors replicate on the pandemic, the necessity for epidemiologists is clear.

“Epidemiologists play a really core and significant position in any epidemic illness investigations,” he mentioned.

That’s their job, learning ailments, the causes, and the way they unfold. However what precisely is the distinction between a pandemic and an epidemic?

“The distinction between epidemic and pandemic is the variety of instances and space of the inhabitants unfold,” he mentioned.

COVID-19 is taken into account a pandemic as a substitute of an epidemic. As extra individuals enter the general public well being subject, epidemiologists are hopeful they will perceive the long-term influence of COVID-19 on our neighborhood.

He says there’s a number of curiosity in this system, and he’s hopeful it should hold rising because the years go on.

“We wished to know, what is going on in our inhabitants as a result of the illness final result, illness distribution, and threat issue varies from inhabitants to inhabitants,” mentioned Islam.

Copyright 2022 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.