Epidemiology and Population Health
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution, determinants, and control of illness and impairment in human populations. It is the cornerstone of population health and informs policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for treatment and prevention. The Department of Epidemiology and Population Health (EPH) provides the analytical foundation for research conducted at the Stanford School of Medicine, offering expertise, research, and training on collecting and interpreting the scientific evidence essential to improving human health.
The scholars within EPH conduct a wide variety of health-related research. Using observational and experimental research methods, our scholars uncover environmental, social, genetic, and behavioral factors to aid in human disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Further, the faculty train physician investigators in techniques of clinical research and are committed to advancing knowledge in epidemiology and population health through educational programs for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students.
Prospective Students: EPH Ambassadors are hosting live Zoom sessions with current graduate students to answer questions about life in our Department. Learn more.
Recent News
Measles may be making a comeback in the U.S.
April 24, 2025 - Mathew Kiang, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health and Nathan Lo, assistant professor of infectious diseases, authored a new study modeling the impact of decreasing vaccination rates on the spread of infectious diseases. Kiang and Lo's research found that measles may become endemic within the next twenty years. Their research was covered in The Washington Post, LA Times, Newsweek, and many other publications.
Professor Goldman Rosas finds a prescription for produce improves health
March 4, 2025 - A new study led by EPH professor Lisa Goldman Rosas provides evidence that nutritional interventions can play a key role in promoting health and preventing, managing, and treating disease.
Falling in love with humanity: An interview with EPH PhD student Catharine Bowman
February 6, 2025 - Catharine Bowman, an EPH PhD student and member of the 2022 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, recently chatted on the Imagine a World podcast about her research on lymphatic diseases and the path that led her to Stanford.