zlacker

> epidemiologists aren't doctors or biologists but "social scientists" with a particular critical bent

I have 12 years of postsecondary education in life science (medicine, health sciences, biochemistry and cancer/cell bio research at the graduate level) and this is completely, unequivocally false.

>>epgui+(OP)
n=? Epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist are radically different disciplines, and epidemiology in public health is a social science research job, and categorically not necessarily a life sciences job. These people research equity.

Sorry you couldn't do more with your background, but epidemiologists in public health just need a master's, and often just an undergrad with some stats skills. Many even have PhD's, but in policy areas, and not life sciences. There was not a single microscope let alone a biolab in the municipal public health units who were responsible for pandemic response and policy advice. Hospitals? Sure. But the people who were making pandemic policy were absolutely not analyzing samples.

I would go so far as to say that epidemiologist has become like software engineers and architects, but for public policy. They are teaching epidemiology in cultural studies programs. The real thing is as rigorous as infectious disease research, but if we are being unequivocal - the policy people are hacks.

>>motoha+X1
> These people research equity.

This is the same partisan complaint no matter the topic. Everything is a nail since all you have is this one hammer.