Translational Epidemiology Initiative
In summer 2017, the Department of Epidemiology launched the Translational Epidemiology Initiative under the leadership of David Dowdy, MD, PhD ’08, ScM ’02. This was an effort across all departmental tracks to improve the translation of epidemiological results into better health outcomes.
This initiative was based on ideas by Moyses Szklo, MD, DrPH ’74, MPH, who defined translational epidemiology as an "effective transfer of new knowledge from epidemiologic studies into the planning of populationwide and individual-level disease control programs and policies.â€
The Translational Epidemiology Initiative includes several key components:
- Emphasizing translational efforts in the Department, including engagement with policymakers, government officials, basic scientists, clinicians, and members of the media
- Holding symposia in the School, broader Baltimore community, and scientific conferences to help forge links between epidemiologists and other key stakeholders
- Developing an innovative curriculum to teach students skills necessary to become effective Translational Epidemiologists
- Publishing articles in the scientific literature to help conceptualize and promote Translational Epidemiology as an important component of the field
- Advancing an agenda within the field of epidemiology to help strengthen linkages between the results of epidemiological inquiry and improved health outcomes in populations
The Translational Epidemiology Initiative hosts a monthly seminar during the academic year focusing on diverse topics under the theme of translational epidemiology.
2024–2025 Seminar Series
Bonnielin Swenor, PhD, MPH:
2023–2024 Seminar Series
Ryan Town, MD: (December 4, 2023)
Amber D'Souza, PhD: (January 26, 2024)
Parastu Kasaie, PhD, and Keri Althoff, PhD: (May 16, 2024)
2022–2023 Seminar Series
Tyler VanderWeele, PhD: (September 29, 2022)
Jan M. Eberth, PhD: (October 27, 2022)
2021–2022 Seminar Series
Stefan Baral, MD: (September 23, 2021)
Lindsey Leininger, PhD: (October 14, 2021)
Kara Rudolph, PhD: (February 10, 2022)
Kevin Kensler, ScD: (March 31, 2022)
Usama Bilal, PhD, MPH, MD: (April 21, 2022)
2020–2021 Seminar Series
Moyses Szklo, MD, PhD: (February 25, 2021)
Joseph Flynn, MD: (April 15, 2021)
George Davey Smith MA, MD, BChir, MSc: (May 17, 2021)
The Translational Epidemiology Initiative, including students and faculty in the department, published an article describing a vision of translational epidemiology in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2019:
Windle M, Lee HD, Cherng ST, Lesko CR, Hanrahan C, Jackson JW, McAdams-DeMarco M, Ehrhardt S, Baral SD, D'Souza G, Dowdy DW. From Epidemiologic Knowledge to Improved Health: A Vision for Translational Epidemiology. Am J Epidemiol. 2019;188(12):2049-2060. doi:10.1093/aje/kwz085
Link to full article:
If you have questions about the Translational Epidemiology Initiative, please contact Derek Ng (dng@jhu.edu) and Heather McKay (hmckay4@jhu.edu).