3 Credits, Fall Semester

Prerequisite: None

The course will provide students with an understanding of and appreciation for population approaches to improving the health of our nation and the world, as well as knowledge of various career paths in public health. Course content includes: public health perspectives on health, wellness, illness, and population well-being; key influences on the health and well being of individuals and populations; assessing public health problems from a population health perspective; using the five core components of public health to address health problems; effectively utilizing health information to address public health issues; and career paths in public health and the training/expertise required to pursue them. Students will engage in critical assessment of historical and current public health events, and creative application of their foundational knowledge to new public health problems. The course is particularly applicable to students preparing to pursue a health-related career and to students in health professions programs desiring a knowledge of public health approaches.

Prerequisite: None

Introduction to the basic principles, methods, and uses of epidemiology. This course is a master’s/doctoral level course designed to introduce epidemiology, its methods and its role in public health. A major portion of the course will be devoted to an overview of fundamental epidemiologic methods used in public health research and practice. The student will be familiarized with basic measures used in describing disease frequency in populations. Descriptive and analytic approaches to the study of disease will be explored, and a perspective on the role of epidemiologic methods in health services planning and evaluation will be provided. Problem solving exercises will be used to provide students with an opportunity to tabulate data and apply subject matter developed during lectures and in reading assignments. At the end of the course students should have a general understanding of the uses and limitations of epidemiologic inquiry. This understanding should provide the basis for applying epidemiologic concepts in work-related settings and in other courses in the public health curriculum.

Format: seated

Prerequisite: EEH 501

Provides information on advanced topics in epidemiologic methods. Emphasis is on various concepts related to the conduct of epidemiologic research. This course extends understanding of topics presented in EEH 501 and presents new topics in advanced epidemiologic methods.

Format: seated

The course is for students in the public health sciences who seek to develop hands-on introductory data analysis skills. Students will learn basic methods for data organization and management as well as basic skills in data exploration and presentation. The course includes emphasis on the application and interpretation of commonly used introductory statistical tests in the computer laboratory using SAS software. Topics include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing for means, proportions, elementary non-parametric techniques, t-tests, ANOVA, correlations, and linear regression.

Format: seated

Prerequisite: None

Intended to inform faculty and MS and PhD students in EEH about new and continuing areas of research and public policy issues in public health and epidemiology.  Invited speakers will include EEH and Roswell Park faculty, graduate students, faculty from other departments at the University at Buffalo, and nationally and internationally recognized experts in public health and epidemiology from outside the University.

Prerequisites: EEH 501 and EEH 502

Advanced course focused on development and design of studies using the three major study designs in epidemiologic and public health research: cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized trials. Topics covered include developing the study question; identifying, recruiting, and enrolling the study population; exposure assessment; ascertaining valid outcomes; bias and confounding; analytic considerations; randomization and blinding; monitoring adverse events; participant well-being and ethical considerations; and reporting and interpreting study findings. Students gain practical experience in critiquing published research that uses each of the study designs, and in developing a research question and designing an appropriate study utilizing each of the study designs to address the question.

Prerequisites: EEH 500 and EEH 501

The focus of this course is on the theoretical considerations and practical implementation considerations necessary for the planning and execution and analysis of randomized trials. This course will cover simple randomization, cluster randomization, and other randomization designs and discuss the trade offs between different designs. Discussions on issues related to drug trials as well as complex interventions. Students will be able to write a study protocol at end of course. The course will cover theory of clinical trial design and implementation of clinical trials.

Prerequisite: EEH 506, or permission of instructor

Provides students in the health sciences with practical experience in preparing, analyzing and reporting findings from epidemiologic and other health-related data. Using existing epidemiologic data sets, students complete exercises related to data cleanup, data file construction and management, basic descriptive statistics, analytical strategies, biostatistical analysis, and data interpretation. Course requirements include analysis and reporting of findings from analysis of existing health-related data.

Students are required to sign up for 1 credit in the fall and spring semesters of the second (MS) and third (PhD) year of their program of study. MS and PhD students are required to sign up for 0 credits in all other semesters in the program.

Prerequisites: None

The goal of this course is to showcase current student research within the department and to provide a venue for constructive feedback on ongoing work in the department. EEH650 gives an opportunity for EEH students to present new hypotheses, ongoing research and manuscripts in development. Required for MS and PhD students (MPH students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to participate).

Additionally, several sessions each semester will be devoted to practical skill development and discussions about career development. Topics may vary from year to year, but are likely to include skills like preparing effective presentations, conducting literature reviews, ethics in publishing, mock interviews, registering study protocols, (re)writing articles for different audiences, and professional development discussions on developing a scholarly/research career, building strong support networks, navigating large team dynamics, physical and mental self-care, and growing within institutions.

Prerequisite: None

Through the dissertation, students design, implement, complete and report on significant and original, independent epidemiologic research. Students conduct their research under the supervision of their major professor and a dissertation committee.

Corequisite: Students must enroll in STA 527 LEC and STA 527 REC in the same term.

This course is designed for students concerned with medical data. The material covered includes: the design of clinical trials and epidemiological studies; data collection; summarizing and presenting data; probability; standard error; confidence intervals and significance tests; techniques of data analysis including multifactorial methods and the choice of statistical methods; problems of medical measurement and diagnosis; and vital statistics and calculation of sample size. The design and analysis of medical research studies will be illustrated. MINITAB is used to perform some data analysis. Descriptive statistics, probability distributions, estimation, tests of hypothesis, categorical data, regression model, analysis of variance, nonparametric methods, and others will be discussed as time permits.

Instructor: Kuhlmann

Format: seated and online

This course is a continuation of the introduction to the statistical analysis of data and statistical design of experiments with an emphasis on regression methods. The material covered includes study design and the role of regression methods, simple linear regression, multiple regression, generalized linear models with a focus on logistic and Poisson outcomes, interactions, confounding variables, other regression models as time allows and statistical software usage. Statistical techniques will be demonstrated using real-world examples. This is a hands-on course and students will be doing calculations and analyses, not just interpreting analyses done by others.

Instructor: Kristopher Attwood, PhD

Format: seated

This is a course in statistical analysis of data and statistical design of experiments with an emphasis on more advanced topics. The material covered includes survival analysis techniques, hierarchical linear models, mixed linear models, generalized estimating equations, repeated measures and longitudinal analysis, methods for assessing reliability, cluster computational methods, statistical software usage, and other topics as time allows. Statistical techniques will be demonstrated using real-world examples. This is a hands-on course and students will be doing calculations and analyses, not just interpreting analyses done by others. 

Instructor: Kristopher Attwood, PhD

Format: Seated

Prerequisite: None

An explanation of basic principles and methods of measurement and their application in public health-related research. These include development and use of different types of instruments and scales for measuring behavioral and social constructs and biological characteristics; effects of measurement error; traditional and innovative methods of data collection; validity and reliability of measurement; response rates; misuse and misinterpretation of results. Students will apply the course content to a construct or characteristic chosen at the beginning of the course.

Prerequisite: None

Provides an in depth overview of the epidemiology on various cancer sites. Standard methodologies and analytic techniques used in cancer epidemiology will be covered. Attention given to critical review of known or suspected cancer risk factors.

Prerequisite: EEH 501

The pathophysiological basis of the major cardiovascular diseases is studied in relation to their clinical and epidemiological characteristics. Findings from major epidemiological studies and clinical trials are reviewed, and their implication for preventive measures are discussed.

Prerequisite: EEH 501

Discusses the major strengths and weakness of dietary assessment methods used in epidemiologic studies to investigate associations between diet and disease (e.g., 24-hour recalls, food records, food frequency questionnaires, nutritional biomarkers). An introduction to nutritional epidemiologic analysis will be presented and discussed including analysis of nutrients, foods and dietary patterns. Critical evaluation of nutritional epidemiologic literature will be practiced.

Prerequisite: EEH 500, EEH 501

Focuses on the theory and epidemiologic methods used in the epidemiologic study of infectious diseases. Emphasis is on the investigation of infectious disease outbreaks, evaluations of vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, and surveillance for infectious diseases of public health importance. The course includes an examination of the following infectious diseases, among others: HIV/AIDs, influenza, foodborne disease, sexually transmitted infections, dengue fever, and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Format: seated

Prerequisite: EEH 573

Advanced course studying recent outbreaks of infectious disease. Each session will deal with an individual agent, review recent outbreaks, and discuss public health implications. Emphasis will be placed on epidemiologic principles, maneuvers by public health authorities to investigate and contain outbreaks, and relationships to the media. Topics and outbreaks will be selected with immediacy and relevance to public health.

Prerequisites: EEH 500, EEH 501

Provides epidemiology and environmental health students with a working knowledge of epidemiologic theory and practice applied to issues of environmental health. Case studies and specific environmental issues will be used to illustrate the application of epidemiologic theory to understand the role of environmental factors in the etiology of disease.

Prerequisite: EEH 501

This course will provide an overview of the current field of perinatal epidemiology, including study designs, exposure and outcome measurement, data resources, and methodological challenges most relevant to the field. Topics of interest will include pregnancy and delivery complications, maternal and fetal morbidities and mortality, and maternal and paternal adverse exposures.

Prerequisites: EEH 501, EEH 502, EEH 505, and STA 527

This course is designed for advanced PhD students who are committed to obtaining extramural support for scientific research. This course involves interactive class discussion of readings focused on planning and writing grants, with emphasis on funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This class covers how to obtain information on funding opportunities, understanding the language of grants, development of the common sections of grant proposals, and understanding the grant review process. This course also involves an introduction to budget planning and Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements for grant submission. All students are required to design and write a research proposal according to NIH guidelines. Students who enroll in the course should have a grant proposal topic of interest to them at the start of class. In addition to class discussions on assigned readings, class time is also be used as a workshop for grant writing and feedback on grant drafts.

Instructor: Millen

Prerequisites: EEH 501, EEH 502, EEH 505, EEH 570, and STA527

Seminar course focused on an understanding of and critical evaluation of research in cancer biology and epidemiology including an in-depth examination of methodological issues.

Instructor: Freudenheim

Prerequisite: EEH 501

Designed for students who are interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of physical activity research and the public health implications of an active or inactive lifestyle. The major emphasis will be on methodological issues in physical activity research, and the role of physical activity in health and chronic disease. The course is intended to develop critical thinking, research, and decision-making skills for independent researchers and clinicians.

Prerequisites: EEH 501, EEH 502, EEH 505, and STA 527

Molecular epidemiology deals with the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular and biochemical level, to the etiology, distribution and control of disease in populations. An understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in disease etiology, and their potential uses in epidemiology is the focus. This course lays the groundwork for reading, interpreting, and critically appraising molecular epidemiologic studies, as well as incorporating molecular methodology into one's own research designs.

Prerequisites: EEH 501, EEH 502, EEH 505, and STA 527

An overview of the field of genetic epidemiology including how to study the genetic causes of phenotypic variation. Topics include human genetics, molecular genetics, and population genetics as they apply to the conduct of a genetic epidemiology study. The concepts of heritability and linkage disequilibrium are covered. The course covers aspects of segregation, linkage, and association as they are used in family- and population-based studies to search for disease-associated genes. Current concepts in the genetics of complex traits as well as an exploration of online databases used in genetic epidemiology are included.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

For PhD students with special interests not satisfied through the formal course work, there is an opportunity to pursue independent study under the direction of a faculty member.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

For PhD students to engage in research under the mentorship of a faculty member.

Prerequisite: None

Through the dissertation, students design, implement, complete and report on significant and original, independent epidemiologic research. Students conduct their research under the supervision of their major professor and a dissertation committee.

3 Credits, Fall Semester

Prerequisite: MTH 142 or second course in calculus or permission of instructor

Regression analysis and introduction to linear models. Topics: Multiple regression, analysis of covariance, least square means, logistic regression, and non-linear regression. This course includes a one-hour computer lab and emphasizes hands-on applications to datasets from the health sciences. 

3 Credits, Fall Semester

Prerequisite: STA 504 and STA 522. Concurrent registration in prerequisites is admissible.

This course provides students with useful methods for analyzing categorical data. Topics: Cross-classification tables, tests for independence, log-linear models, Poisson regression, ordinal logistic regression, and multinomial regression for the logistic model.

3 Credits, Fall Semester

Prerequisite: STA 511

This course presents the topic of data mining from a statistical perspective, with attention directed towards both applied and theoretical considerations. An emphasis will be placed on supervised learning methods. Topics include: linear and logistic regression, discriminant analysis, shrinkage methods, subset selection, dimension reduction techniques, classification and regression trees, ensemble methods, neural networks, and random forests. Model selection and estimation of generalization error will be emphasized. Considerations and issues that arise with high-dimensional (N<<p) applications will be highlighted. Applications will be presented in R to illustrate methods and concepts.

3 Credits, Fall Semester

Prerequisite: STA 504 and STA 522

Provides an advanced course on the use of life tables and analysis of failure time data. Topics: Use of Kaplan-Meier survival curves, use of log rank test, Cox proportional hazards model, evaluating the proportionality assumption, dealing with non-proportionality, stratified Cox procedure, extension to time-dependent variables, and comparison with logistic regression approaches.