The epidemiology of tuberculosis in two weeks: GO
December 11, 2009 3:40 PM Subscribe
Help me get up to speed on epidemiology (and especially tuberculosis).
Dearest Mefites,
My meandering career path has dropped me into a new job: starting January 4th, I'll be a statistical research specialist on a big public health grant, with some data-slinging for several other projects on the side (all tuberculosis-related). Problem: I have a social science background. I have all the knowledge I need to do my job - I asked very pointed questions about that during the interview - but I'm not really the type to be satisfied with just knowing my slice of the work. I'd like to learn more about epidemiology in general, tuberculosis in particular, and about careers in epidemiology.
In particular, I'd love to get some suggestions on books about TB itself (something less technical than a clinical reference manual, but more than pop science) and about methods in epidemiology (what a 3rd- or 4-th year grad student would use is probably about right for me).
This is premature, as I haven't even started the job, but I'd also greatly appreciate any wise words on career paths in epidemiology. I have some idea of what I like (this abstract sounds incredibly interesting), but I just don't have the words for it.
I do have a slightly above-average background in bio for a social science student, especially genetics (e.g., I aced a 300-level genetics course during my freshman year as an English major while getting Bs in my English courses. No, I don't get it either). But I know enough to realize that there is a ton I don't know, especially microbiology and actual methods in genetics.
Thank you in advance. I know this is a huge question and I've been somewhat vague, so please don't hesitate to ask me any clarifying questions.
Dearest Mefites,
My meandering career path has dropped me into a new job: starting January 4th, I'll be a statistical research specialist on a big public health grant, with some data-slinging for several other projects on the side (all tuberculosis-related). Problem: I have a social science background. I have all the knowledge I need to do my job - I asked very pointed questions about that during the interview - but I'm not really the type to be satisfied with just knowing my slice of the work. I'd like to learn more about epidemiology in general, tuberculosis in particular, and about careers in epidemiology.
In particular, I'd love to get some suggestions on books about TB itself (something less technical than a clinical reference manual, but more than pop science) and about methods in epidemiology (what a 3rd- or 4-th year grad student would use is probably about right for me).
This is premature, as I haven't even started the job, but I'd also greatly appreciate any wise words on career paths in epidemiology. I have some idea of what I like (this abstract sounds incredibly interesting), but I just don't have the words for it.
I do have a slightly above-average background in bio for a social science student, especially genetics (e.g., I aced a 300-level genetics course during my freshman year as an English major while getting Bs in my English courses. No, I don't get it either). But I know enough to realize that there is a ton I don't know, especially microbiology and actual methods in genetics.
Thank you in advance. I know this is a huge question and I've been somewhat vague, so please don't hesitate to ask me any clarifying questions.
Best answer: I would recommend starting with a basic epidemiology class, which may be available to you through your new institution-- or you might be able to use training funds if that's a benefit offered to you. I assume you already have a biostats background, based on what you're going to be doing. If not, I might do one of those before epi.
If you can't take it a class person, there are numerous quality online public health programs. I am biased towards the one at Johns Hopkins , but it's pricey, and doesn't really make sense for the intro stuff unless you plan to pursue a degree there at some point. Here is a list of accredited schools of public health.
However, if you're interested in tuberculosis and epi, you must take Epidemiologic Basis for Tuberculosis Control through Hopkins. I took it in person, but I heard the online iteration worked well. Excellent course with the caveat that you should have a strong basis in stats and epi to really benefit from it. The professors are great, doing tremendously interesting fieldwork, and very available for questions and nerdy postulating about the various mysteries of TB.
Given your social science background, I would also suggest reading Dr. Paul Farmer's work, especially Infections and Inequalities. He does a great job exploring how social factors (mainly poverty) intersect with the biological realities of the disease with disastrous results. Perhaps his greatest achievement has been pioneering treatment protocols for multi-drug-resistant TB in the developing world.
Echoing cestmoi15 on WHO, CDC, and PubMed. Also, check out this amazing cartogram!
I am a tremendous TB nerd. I took every TB-related class possible in school, continue to read about it fanatically, and even have this giant microbe on my desk at work. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk TB!
posted by charmcityblues at 5:29 PM on December 11, 2009
If you can't take it a class person, there are numerous quality online public health programs. I am biased towards the one at Johns Hopkins , but it's pricey, and doesn't really make sense for the intro stuff unless you plan to pursue a degree there at some point. Here is a list of accredited schools of public health.
However, if you're interested in tuberculosis and epi, you must take Epidemiologic Basis for Tuberculosis Control through Hopkins. I took it in person, but I heard the online iteration worked well. Excellent course with the caveat that you should have a strong basis in stats and epi to really benefit from it. The professors are great, doing tremendously interesting fieldwork, and very available for questions and nerdy postulating about the various mysteries of TB.
Given your social science background, I would also suggest reading Dr. Paul Farmer's work, especially Infections and Inequalities. He does a great job exploring how social factors (mainly poverty) intersect with the biological realities of the disease with disastrous results. Perhaps his greatest achievement has been pioneering treatment protocols for multi-drug-resistant TB in the developing world.
Echoing cestmoi15 on WHO, CDC, and PubMed. Also, check out this amazing cartogram!
I am a tremendous TB nerd. I took every TB-related class possible in school, continue to read about it fanatically, and even have this giant microbe on my desk at work. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk TB!
posted by charmcityblues at 5:29 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: I meandered though the field of epidemiology for a little bit myself. Now though, I'm calling myself an evolutionary biologist.
For the more general stuff, if you can get hold of "Infectious Diseases of Humans: Dynamics and Control", by Anderson and May, that would hold you in good stead for the general background to epidemiology. It's aimed at the graduate student-level I think. Amazon has it listed as "damn expensive" but I picked up a copy for cheap at a remainder bookshop, maybe you can do the same (or at the very least obtain it from a library). It was published way back in 1992 but it's well written and pretty comprehensive. [full disclosure: I once worked for Anderson]
That said, you could probably get to grips with the gist of things by reading a few review papers on the subject. I'm away from my papers library but I can dig some references out and send you links/pdfs for some useful ones on the mathematical/theory side of epidemiology if you want (mefi mail me).
I'm afraid I don't know any specific resources about TB, and the link to the abstact you pointed to was broken, so I can't help you there. Good luck though, it's a fascinating area!
posted by jonesor at 5:31 PM on December 11, 2009
For the more general stuff, if you can get hold of "Infectious Diseases of Humans: Dynamics and Control", by Anderson and May, that would hold you in good stead for the general background to epidemiology. It's aimed at the graduate student-level I think. Amazon has it listed as "damn expensive" but I picked up a copy for cheap at a remainder bookshop, maybe you can do the same (or at the very least obtain it from a library). It was published way back in 1992 but it's well written and pretty comprehensive. [full disclosure: I once worked for Anderson]
That said, you could probably get to grips with the gist of things by reading a few review papers on the subject. I'm away from my papers library but I can dig some references out and send you links/pdfs for some useful ones on the mathematical/theory side of epidemiology if you want (mefi mail me).
I'm afraid I don't know any specific resources about TB, and the link to the abstact you pointed to was broken, so I can't help you there. Good luck though, it's a fascinating area!
posted by jonesor at 5:31 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: A 3rd or 4th year grad student shouldn't be taking classes except maybe a seminar on an interesting topic. The canonical text for starting to really think about epi is Modern Epidemiology by Rothman and Greenland. I liked the 2nd ed better; 3rd ed has added a bunch of chapters on specialty topics. My favorite book for a true beginner in epi is Epidemiology by Gordis.
I agree with the above that there's a nice meeting of the worlds of infectious disease and social epi (including social networks) in TB. However, given your role in computing and data slinging the more basic books should be a good place to start and get a hold of the lingo.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 6:06 PM on December 11, 2009
I agree with the above that there's a nice meeting of the worlds of infectious disease and social epi (including social networks) in TB. However, given your role in computing and data slinging the more basic books should be a good place to start and get a hold of the lingo.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 6:06 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: Laurie Garrett's books The Coming Plague and Betrayal of Trust are well-researched, well-written books about infectious diseases, including TB, and public health at the global level. I highly recommend both of them, but especially The Coming Plague.
posted by gingerbeer at 6:45 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by gingerbeer at 6:45 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: Epidemiology, by Gordis, as mentioned above, was the textbook I used in my beginning Epi class (MPH program), and I remember it being good.
To learn more about what you can do in epi in general, try checking out MPH program websites (Hopkins, Columbia, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UMichigan are the best for public health, but I don't know where the top epi programs are, sorry!). The prospective student section should tell you what recent grads are doing and what the faculty are working on. For basic background stuff, you can also check out the American Public Health Association, which is the professional association for public health and What Is Public Health, which is put together by the Association of Schools of Public Health (and Pfizer). I bet there are some really good blogs on this topic out there. I can point you towards some great flu blogs, but unfortunately I don't know any TB blogs. Aetiology is a good epi blog with a long list of other blogs; that might be a good place to start looking.
I bet you could also get some good recs (and points!) by calling your new boss and asking her advice on what you should read. You should also check out publications by the PI and other lead staff on the project.
Congratulations! That sounds like a really interesting job!
posted by min at 8:33 PM on December 11, 2009
To learn more about what you can do in epi in general, try checking out MPH program websites (Hopkins, Columbia, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UMichigan are the best for public health, but I don't know where the top epi programs are, sorry!). The prospective student section should tell you what recent grads are doing and what the faculty are working on. For basic background stuff, you can also check out the American Public Health Association, which is the professional association for public health and What Is Public Health, which is put together by the Association of Schools of Public Health (and Pfizer). I bet there are some really good blogs on this topic out there. I can point you towards some great flu blogs, but unfortunately I don't know any TB blogs. Aetiology is a good epi blog with a long list of other blogs; that might be a good place to start looking.
I bet you could also get some good recs (and points!) by calling your new boss and asking her advice on what you should read. You should also check out publications by the PI and other lead staff on the project.
Congratulations! That sounds like a really interesting job!
posted by min at 8:33 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: nthing the cdc. For a government agency, they do a remarkable job:
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 8:56 PM on December 12, 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 8:56 PM on December 12, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! The CPU on my computer is inexplicably overheating, but I appreciate the comments so far and will give you proper feedback once I can access the Internet on something other than my phone.
posted by McBearclaw at 5:08 PM on December 13, 2009
posted by McBearclaw at 5:08 PM on December 13, 2009
Response by poster: Further thanks. I have, of course, learned a lot on the job, but these resources helped me hit the ground running. I'm reading The Coming Plague and, while I find it a bit sensationalist, I can't help but like it.
posted by McBearclaw at 4:40 PM on January 23, 2010
posted by McBearclaw at 4:40 PM on January 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also, go to pubmed.gov and copy and paste this into the search box: "Tuberculosis/epidemiology"[Majr] AND ("humans"[MeSH Terms] AND English[lang]) you may want to click on "review" in the upper right corner.
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:09 PM on December 11, 2009