Defining methodologic and other core competencies for PhD-level training in epidemiology

Hailey R. Banack, Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Laura C. Rosella, Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Stephanie Shiau, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
Chanelle J. Howe, Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, United States.
Pablo Martinez-Amezcua, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Matthew P. Fox, Department of Epidemiology and Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
Sara D. Adar, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Emily W. Harville, Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Heather A. Young, Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Sarah S. Bassiouni, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Shilo H. McBurney, Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, United States.
Samuel L. Swift, College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.
William C. Miller, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health.
Matthew J. Strickland, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health, Reno, NV, United States.
Francesca R. Marino, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Stephan Ehrhardt, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Susan M. Pinney, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Olabowale O. Olola, Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), AR, United States.
Cindy Prins, Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Sofija E. Zagarins, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.
Nel Jason Haw, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Anna Z. Pollack, Department of Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.
Sung Kyun Park, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Emily Goldmann, Department of Epidemiology, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY.
Emily M. Henkle, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97232.
Farzana Kapadia, Department of Epidemiology, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY.
Andrew O. Odegaard, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, Program in Public Health, Irvine, CA, United States.
Uyen-Sa D. Nguyen, Department of Population and Community Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Fort Worth, TX, United States.
Catherine E. Oldenburg, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
Catherine R. Lesko, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-9-2025

Journal

American journal of epidemiology

DOI

10.1093/aje/kwaf073

Keywords

PhD epidemiology; competencies; doctoral training; epidemiology education

Abstract

In this manuscript, we present the results of a series of workshops convened in conjunction with the 2023 Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) annual meeting. The overall objective of the workshops was to develop a set of core competencies for PhD students in epidemiology. The topics presented in the lists of competencies are organized using a framework similar to many graduate programs in epidemiology, proceeding from basic to advanced topics. Given the breadth of substantive topics in the fields of epidemiology and public health, this list of competencies focuses on methodologic topics that are relevant to all students, regardless of research interest. The final topic lists were developed based on discussions including a large and diverse group of epidemiologists with different areas of expertise. By creating this resource, we aim to facilitate training of future generations of epidemiologists.

Department

Epidemiology

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