Hi EAs, I’m Dee, first-time forum poster but long-time advocate for EA principles since first discovering the movement through Peter Singer’s work. I’ve always had a particular interest in global health and wellbeing, which initially inspired me to complete a medical degree. While I enjoyed my studies, I became somewhat disheartened with the scope of impact I could have as a single doctor in a system largely geared towards treatment rather than prevention of disease. After a career pivot to management consulting for a couple of years, I eventually completed my PhD in epidemiology. I’m now using my research experience and medical knowledge to tackle complex public health problems.
The more I’ve solidified my own goals to do good, including through my career as well as through giving to effective causes, I’ve sought to further engage with EA content and the community. I look forward to connecting and sharing ideas with you all!
Epidemiology! I hadn’t really thought about epidemiology as a career but it strikes me as potentially very high impact, especially if you’re going into it with an attention to impact. My basic thinking is that the field of health tends to have some of the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of improving people’s lives, and epidemiology can have a leveraged impact by benefiting many people simultaneously (which is also why being a doctor is maybe less good—the number of people you can help is much smaller).
If you have thoughts, I am interested in what you think about where are the big problems in epidemiology, or at least where are the big problems that you personally can contribute to. It’s not a space I know much about. (You did say the problems are complex which seems true to me so I don’t think I am really in a position to understand epidemiology lol.)
Very much agree about public health as low-hanging fruit when it comes to impact- hence my career pivot! We often use the term “wicked problems” to describe the public health challenges that are complex, interconnected, and basically refuse to be “solved”. In my view, some of the “wickedest” problems in epidemiology include climate change and health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), antimicrobial resistance, mental health, pandemic preparedness, and global health equity (among others).
My own research mostly focuses on NCDs (particularly diabetes) and occupational health epidemiology, while I teach subjects like climate change and public health, as well as health communication (which I also see as particularly important given the rise of health misinformation). I’ve also served on various mental health and global health boards and committees, so I guess you could say I’m trying to contribute to solving as many of these big public health problems as I can!
Hi EAs, I’m Dee, first-time forum poster but long-time advocate for EA principles since first discovering the movement through Peter Singer’s work. I’ve always had a particular interest in global health and wellbeing, which initially inspired me to complete a medical degree. While I enjoyed my studies, I became somewhat disheartened with the scope of impact I could have as a single doctor in a system largely geared towards treatment rather than prevention of disease. After a career pivot to management consulting for a couple of years, I eventually completed my PhD in epidemiology. I’m now using my research experience and medical knowledge to tackle complex public health problems.
The more I’ve solidified my own goals to do good, including through my career as well as through giving to effective causes, I’ve sought to further engage with EA content and the community. I look forward to connecting and sharing ideas with you all!
Epidemiology! I hadn’t really thought about epidemiology as a career but it strikes me as potentially very high impact, especially if you’re going into it with an attention to impact. My basic thinking is that the field of health tends to have some of the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of improving people’s lives, and epidemiology can have a leveraged impact by benefiting many people simultaneously (which is also why being a doctor is maybe less good—the number of people you can help is much smaller).
If you have thoughts, I am interested in what you think about where are the big problems in epidemiology, or at least where are the big problems that you personally can contribute to. It’s not a space I know much about. (You did say the problems are complex which seems true to me so I don’t think I am really in a position to understand epidemiology lol.)
Very much agree about public health as low-hanging fruit when it comes to impact- hence my career pivot! We often use the term “wicked problems” to describe the public health challenges that are complex, interconnected, and basically refuse to be “solved”. In my view, some of the “wickedest” problems in epidemiology include climate change and health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), antimicrobial resistance, mental health, pandemic preparedness, and global health equity (among others).
My own research mostly focuses on NCDs (particularly diabetes) and occupational health epidemiology, while I teach subjects like climate change and public health, as well as health communication (which I also see as particularly important given the rise of health misinformation). I’ve also served on various mental health and global health boards and committees, so I guess you could say I’m trying to contribute to solving as many of these big public health problems as I can!
That’s awesome to hear Dee! I’m the Forum’s Content Manager, let me know if you want help finding anything, answering any questions, etc… :)
thanks Toby, will do!