July 2018 - The Epidemiology Monitor

CSTE Finds A 22% Increase In Applied Epidemiologists Working At State Level Salary Levels Reported More Than One Thousand Epidemiologists Still Needed The sixth report in a series of epidemiology capacity assessments carried out by the Conference of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) was just released last month.

Achieving a 100% response rate, this comprehensive assessment found that an estimated 3,370 epidemiologists were employed by state health departments in 2017, an increase of 22% over the 2,752 epidemiologists working there in 2013.

Despite the increase in epidemiologists, the current workforce was judged to be still below the ideal or desired level. The optimal number of state level epidemiologists was reported to be 4,568, a 36% increase over the actual number in 2017.

These paradoxical findings—the - CSTE continues on page 11

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Brussels Declaration: 20 Principles To Help Govern Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) Statement Criticized For Lacking Safeguards Against Corporate Interests The Brussels Declaration, a set of 20 principles, is the culmination in 2017 of an independent 5-year initiative questioning the robustness of scienceled policymaking around the world.

The private group responsible for the initiative believes that bad government policies, presumably not July 2018

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evidence-based, are causing public harm. To help ameliorate this situation, a text was adopted during a symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It articulated 20 principles to help improve the process of evidence based - Declaration cont'd on page 2 Volume Thirty Nine

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Number Seven

In This Issue -4The Brussels Declaration -510 Tips for Spotting Industry Involvement in Science Policy -7Tips from Epidemiologists for a Healthy Summer & Life -15Notes on People -17Near Term Epidemiology Event Calendar -18Letters to the Editor -19Marketplace

-Declaration cont'd from page 1 The Epidemiology Monitor ISSN (0744-0898) is published monthly

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decision making. These 20 principles are the core of the Brussels Declaration (See below).

Purpose In a statement on EuroScientist where the declaration was published, the authors assert that the sole purpose of the declaration “…is to boost understanding of how power operates and to explain why evidence plus dialogue rarely equals (as one might expect) good decisions and laws. Above all, we make a case for a broad, multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary approach promoting greater integrity and accountability.

Our main recommendation for promoting public dialogue and better understanding is not only greater transparency and scrutiny, but genuine inclusivity.”

Positive Elements The Brussels Declaration contains many sound ideas that should shape the conduct of scientists and others involved in the attempts to make good use of science in developing public policy. For example, one of the principles is that policy makers should be willing to justify decisions particularly when they deviate from independent scientific advice.

Mainstream science groups have appeared in support of the Declaration, however, several epidemiologists involved with policy have said they were unaware of it.

The positive elements of the Declaration have not dissuaded a group of British scientists from calling into question the real intent of the Declaration. For example, one of

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the principles that has raised concern states “Industry is an investor in knowledge generation and science and has every right to have its voice heard”.

In a paper in Tobacco Control Jim McCambridge at York University and his colleagues Mike Daube and Martin McKee have asked skeptically in their title “Brussels Declaration: a vehicle for the advancement of tobacco and alcohol industry interests at the science/policy interface?”

Based on an analysis of the Declaration and the process used to create it, McCambridge and colleagues became suspicious that the real intent of the document might not be what it seems and that it could be part of a global strategy by industry, especially the tobacco and alcohol industries, to shape the making of science policy and the governance of research more generally.

They list five issues which raise concern about how seriously the Declaration should be taken.

Five Issues First, they question the process for developing the Declaration such as how the participants were selected, who actually attended the events leading up to the Declaration, how much involvement they had in the final Declaration, and how the costs of development were met.

Second, because the Declaration calls for inclusivity, it has the potential to be appealing in a democratic context.

However, a call for inclusivity undermines the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which excludes tobacco companies from involvement in public health policy making.

- Declaration continues on page 3

-Declaration cont'd from page 2 Third, there is a need to better understand the “corporate determinants of health”. Scientists should be vigilant when they interact with industry personnel at meetings and other events lest their names and reputations be misused.

Fourth, other recent developments, such as the substantial investment by Phillip Morris International in a ‘Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, have called into question how industry may be operating in the research and science policy arenas to satisfy its global political strategies.

Fifth, the Declaration should be examined to determine how much it ultimately succeeds as “an instrument of influence” on conflicts of interest, on the evaluation of science, and on public health and science policies.

Conclusions In the abstract to their paper, McCambridge and colleagues say “The case for policies to be based on

evidence appeared to gain a major boost with the publication of the Brussels Declaration, apparently with support from many leading scientists and institutions…there are major concerns about how it was developed, and in particular, the extensive involvement of tobacco and alcohol industry actors…The process of developing the Declaration successfully involved science advisors, other senior officials in governments and politicians in its preparation.

Despite this, the final Declaration fails to address the need for safeguards to protect the integrity of science or policy from corporate interests…the Declaration offers potential to serve as a vehicle for advancing the vested interests of corporate sectors in public policymaking…”

"there is a need to better understand the 'corporate determinants of health'."

The 20 principles of the Declaration are reprinted below. To view the full Declaration, including the Preamble, visit: https://bit.ly/2nr3vTg ■

2018 NATIONAL SURVEY OF FACULTY SALARIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY: ADD YOUR INFORMATION TO THE MIX! The Epidemiology Monitor has partnered with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) and the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (DBEI) of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine to conduct a new, expanded survey that will help epidemiology and preventive-medicine department leaders promote competitive faculty salaries.

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The Brussels Declaration

[Reprinted here from the website EuroScientist]

The 20 Principles of the Brussels Declaration Section 1: science and policy – a crucial relationship

"10. Ethical consideration of the impact of policy decisions is crucial"

1. Science is a fundamental pillar of knowledge-based societies 2. Science can help provide the evidence base for public policy 3. Sound public policy is crucial for the direction and priorities of science 4. The dialogue between science and policy is never straight-forward Section 2: what we expect from the scientific community 5. The integrity of science needs to be clear and the integrity of scientists providing advice must be unimpeachable 6. The full range of scientific disciplines should be included; notably, the social sciences can play a key role in improving how the public may react or adapt 7. Scientists must learn to use established communication channels for providing policy advice more effectively and be less aloof and perhaps less arrogant 8. Scientists must listen and respond to criticism Section 3: what we expect from the policy-making community 9. Policy-makers must listen, consult and be held accountable 10. Ethical consideration of the impact of policy decisions is crucial 11. Policy-makers have to challenge science to deliver on public investment 12. Policy-makers should be willing to justify decisions, particularly where

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they deviate from independent scientific advice 13. Policy-makers should acknowledge the potential for bias and vested interests contrary to the scientific consensus Section 4: what we expect from the public, media, industry and interest groups 14. The public plays a critical role in influencing policy and must be included in the decision-making process 15. Industry is an investor in knowledge generation and science and has every right to have its voice heard 16. Interest groups similarly have every right to have their voice heard as guardians of the common good or legitimate sectoral interests 17. Advice from any source to policymaking must acknowledge possible bias Section 5: what needs to change: how scientific advice & greater inclusivity need to be integrated more effectively 18. Scientific advice must be more involved in all stages of the policymaking process 19. Policy-making must learn to cope with the speed of scientific development and include greater foresight and policy anticipation 20. Societal investment in science will always require priority-setting; nevertheless, advances in public health deserve special attention â–

10 Tips For Spotting Industry Involvement In Science Policy Author Provides Measures To Prevent Industry Influence In an editorial accompanying the McCambridge article in Tobacco Control about the Brussels Declaration (see related article in this issue), the University of Sydney’s Lisa Bero discusses what has been learned about industry influence on science. It happens.

She concludes that the analysis by McCambridge and his colleagues “suggests that corporate interests shaped the Declaration to enhance the ability of industry to influence evidence and policy.” Bero offers ten tips for spotting industry involvement in science policy and walking away. She proposes that “scientists should view invitations to participate in initiatives aimed at improving research standards or methods through the lens of these tips.

6. The initiative invokes the names of large numbers of stakeholders and scientists including “thought leaders” and “carefully selected influencers”.

7. Scientists involved may not know they are involved.

8. Phrases such as “More than xx individuals from YY countries” support the position create a sense of false consensus when the majority of participants are affiliated with industry.

“4. The document illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of conflicts of interest."

9. The language of the document is critical of scientists but not of industry.

10. The tobacco industry is one of the players. ■

They are: 1. The initiative originates with a communications or public relations firm.

2. The initiative claims to be a bottom up or grassroots effort.

3. There is a lack of disclosure of funding for the initiative of funding for the participants at the meeting.

4. The document illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of conflicts of interest.

5. Statements that nonfinancial conflicts of interest are more influential and harder to manage than financial conflicts of interest are used to divert attention away from industry.

Do you have news about yourself, a colleague, or a student?

Please help The Epidemiology Monitor keep the community informed by sending relevant news to us at the address below for inclusion in our next issue.

"9. The language of the document is critical of scientists but not of industry."

people@epimonitor.net

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Snappy Article Gives Tips From Epidemiologists For a Healthy Summer And A Healthy Life

“...what drives disease and what cuts it off at the knees.”

An attention-grabbing article, written in colloquial language, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has consulted with in-house epidemiologists at the Center to dispense some health advice for the summer and beyond. According to the article, “our epidemiologists have spent decades studying the exposures that increase our risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

They've painstakingly sifted through data to understand what drives disease and what cuts it off at the knees.”

In the article, staff writer Diane Mapes quotes epidemiologists and dispenses advice in a fun to read manner.

The article, in a slightly edited version, is reprinted below with permission. _______________________________________________________________________

Disease-Squelching Science Tips It’s hard not to sound shamey, blamey and preachy — three of the lesser-known Dwarves — when you talk about cancer prevention. So many of the culprits that public health researchers point to are baked into our behaviors.

Red meat and starchy potatoes at our meals? A little sunbathing come summer?

White chocolate mocha Frappuccino? Surely, that can’t be all that bad, can it? In moderation, no. In excess — absolutely.

But scientists aren’t trying to make you feel guilty when they tell you to drop a few pounds or skip that second martini. They’re just sharing the data. Disease prevention hinges on data gathered through good science.

“...scientists aren’t trying to make you feel guilty..."

And here at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, we’re all about the good science. Sure, disease is sometimes driven by a wonky bit of inherited DNA (thanks, Mom and Dad!) or some biological misfiring we’ve yet to fully understand, but it’s also true that a lot of it is brought about by our exposures, our behaviors and, yes, our choices (and you bet that gets complicated when a choice is dictated by addiction, as with smoking).

Choose mindfully and you can substantially curb your risk for those four horsemen of poor health — cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

And that can feel pretty darn empowering. As in cutting cancer risk by 30 to 50 percent empowering, per the latest World Cancer Research Fund report. And the stuff that kicks cancer risk to the curb usually helps fend off the other diseases, as well.

Want to make this your healthiest summer yet? Empower yourself — and your loved ones — with some disease-squelching science and practical prevention tips from our public health researchers.

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- Healthy cont'd on page 7

-Healthy cont'd from page 6

1. Feast on fruits and vegetables These colorful cancer fighters are everywhere during summer — and that bounty usually means prices are lower, too. Hit the local farmers market and stock up on all kinds and all colors.

Those that are richest in hue — like kale, spinach, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes and peppers — contain vitamin A, which can help keep cells healthy.

“Want to kick the legs out from underneath chronic illnesses..."

And fruits, such as berries and vitamin-C-rich oranges, grapefruit and kiwi are not only great for breakfast, snacks and dessert, they contain important cancerfighting phytonutrients, as well.

Want to kick the legs out from underneath chronic illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease? Make vegetables, not meat, the center of most meals: they fill you up and can literally cut risk for some cancers, like prostate, nearly in half. Eat them raw, throw a bunch on the backyard grill, or make a soup and freeze it for fall.

Hutch epidemiologist Dr. Holly Harris said she tries to get her kids involved when making her summer selections. "We like to go to farmers markets and find that our kids are more likely to eat vegetables that they've picked out themselves."

2. Stay safe in the sun Nearly 5 million U.S. adults are treated every year for all types of skin cancer (at a cost of $8.1 billion). And the rate of melanomas, the deadliest form, has doubled since 1982, enough to nudge the surgeon general into a call to action to prevent skin cancer.

But we are hardly powerless in the face of these statistics; most of these cancers are preventable by simply covering up.

" Dermatologists don’t give wiggle room to avoid sunscreen..."

"Dermatologists don’t give wiggle room to avoid sunscreen," said Fred Hutch epidemiologist (and author) Dr. Anne McTiernan. "They want people to use it every day, even for walking between buildings."

Find a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a thick layer of that sunscreen that’s at least SPF 15 before going outside, even on cloudy or cool days. McTiernan and the American Cancer Society recommend SPF 30. Also, be mindful that some sunscreens are harmful to coral reefs and may even be banned in certain places. Sunscreen should be reapplied - Healthy cont'd on page 8

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-Healthy cont'd from page 7 after two hours in the sun or after swimming, sweating or using a towel . Other pro tips: stay in the shade, wear clothing that covers your skin, wear a widebrimmed hat or use a parasol or “sun-brella.”

Also, stay away from tanning beds (and make sure you teach your kids to avoid them, too). And wear sunglasses to protect those beautiful peepers.

3. Lean into lean meat and meatless meals “...plants are the bomb..."

While plants are the bomb, red meats and processed meats like ham, bologna, bacon and hot dogs aren’t doing our cells, our arteries or our colons any favors.

The World Health Organization has classified red meat (that’s beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton and any other red muscle meat) as “probably carcinogenic” due to its link to colorectal, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Processed meats are even more problematic. According to Dr. Marian Neuhouser, head of Fred Hutch’s Cancer Prevention Program, they’re “higher in fat, very high in sodium … and contain curing agents such as nitrites that have been shown to be detrimental.”

Not-so-fun fact: For every 50 grams of processed, preserved or cured meat eaten per day — that’s about two slices of bacon, by the way — you’re bumping up your risk for colorectal cancer by 16 percent.

"...deliver a powerful preventive punch to cancer by not going ga-ga with your grilling."

If you’re a meat-eater, try to focus on chicken or fish; they both cook up great on an outdoor grill and don’t come with the same risks. If you must have red meat, limit your intake to just three small portions a week. Pro tip: Make meat more of an understudy than the star of your meal by tucking it into a stir-fry, kebob or savory summer salad.

You can also deliver a powerful preventive punch to cancer by not going ga-ga with your grilling. According to McTiernan (and many other experts), “very high heat seems to release carcinogens.”

4. Be a good (summer) sport What’s the absolute best way to cut your risk for at least 13 cancers (including recurrence) as well as just about every other chronic disease out there? Move that body.

Summer is the perfect time to get active. Swimming, skating, paddleboarding, biking, hiking, kayaking, softball, potato sack races — the choices are almost unlimited. (Just don’t forget the sunscreen if you’re active outside.)

National fitness guidelines call for only 150 minutes of moderate-intensity

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- Healthy cont'd on page 9

-Healthy cont'd from page 8 aerobic physical activity a week for adults. That’s just 30 minutes of movement, five days a week.

“That can be accomplished with a daily 30-minute walk,” said McTiernan. “You do not need to be an athlete. You don’t even need to buy expensive shoes.”

Guidelines also recommend a bit of strength training a couple of times a week.

“You don’t even need to buy expensive shoes.”

Research also shows that moving your body on a regular basis cuts stress, improves sleep, boosts your mood and helps you lose weight. As McTiernan recently put it, “if you’re taking a walk, or pedaling on a stationary bike or doing an elliptical machine, you’re not stuffing your face with food.”

Need some motivation (or accountability)? Keep a fitness journal, sign up for classes and/or partner with a buddy — or your entire family — for walks and workouts.

5. Drink up … but skip the booze and sugary sodas Believe it or not, alcohol is not the best drink for your body. Even small amounts of beer, wine or hard liquor can bump your risk for a host of cancers, according to the latest report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, which McTiernan helped to compile. Reduce your alcohol intake and you’ll fend off other chronic illnesses too, like cardiovascular and fatty liver disease.

This is not new news, of course. Consistently, research shows that the more you drink, the higher your risk of cancer (heavy drinkers face a particularly high risk of liver, throat and mouth, and colorectal cancers). But it’s one of those “preachy” findings that we tend to conveniently forget every time happy hour rolls around.

"...we tend to conveniently forget every time happy hour rolls around."

If you do drink, try to stick with no more than one drink a day (5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, one shot of hard liquor).

As for that sugar-sweetened stuff — soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, even fruit juice? They all contain sugars or syrups so they’re problematic, too.

“If you want to make one change in dietary habit that will clearly benefit you with regard to the reduction of disease, it’s reducing your intake of sugarsweetened beverages like fruit drinks, energy drinks and soda,” said the Hutch’s Dr. Mario Kratz, who studies what food and drink does to our bodies.

What should you drink instead? Water, first and foremost. Unsweetened iced

- Healthy cont'd on page 10

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-Healthy cont'd from page 9 tea or lemonade can work, too. Cucumber mocktails? Watermelon slushies? Grab some refreshing summer fruit, some ice cubes and seltzer water and get creative with your blender.

Just don't forget to toast yourself and your smarts before you drink to that good health.

The Tips In A Nutshell LEAN INTO LEAN MEAT! Focus on lean meats – mainly chicken or fish Avoid highly processed meats (bologna, bacon) Limit red meats to three small portions/week Don’t cook red meat at very high temps THINK GREEN (AND RED AND ORANGE AND YELLOW)!

Shoot for 9 daily servings of fruits and vegetables Eat them raw or cooked All kinds and all colors Make veggies the star of the meal MOVE YOUR BODY! At least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day Don’t forget the strength-training Whatever exercise you will do is what works Buddy up to keep yourself accountable LESS BOOZE, MORE MOCKTAILS! Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda or energy drinks) Limit the booze to one drink a day, if possible One drink = 5 oz. of wine, 12 oz. of beer or one shot of hard liquor Get creative with fruity mocktails and summer slushies BE SMART IN THE SUN! Stay in the shade when you can Cover up — with clothes or sunscreen Use broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays Go for a SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 ■

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-CSTE cont'd from page 1 largest number of epidemiologists ever reported with still more needed— has caused confusion, according to Jessica Arrazola, Senior Program Analyst at CSTE and the staff lead for the assessment. Despite the large increase, new challenges are emerging such as those surrounding the collection and use of big data, she told the Monitor, and there is a need for staff with specialized skills such as informatics, research, and evaluation.

The greatest training priority according to CSTE was in “…data analytics, defined as informatics and the application and translation of public health data.”

The State Numbers The number of epidemiologists per 100,000 population increased to 1.04, higher than the 1.0 per hundred thousand that has been used as a benchmark. The report points out however that this overall rate masks the rates of equal to or less than 0.5 per 100,000 in six states, four of which have populations greater than 6 million. The actual number of epidemiologists per state ranged from a low of 5 to a high of 208. The median number of epidemiologists per state was 59.

Program Areas The more than 3,000 epidemiologists working at the state level are dispersed in 14 program areas listed below: Infectious disease Maternal and child health Chronic disease Environmental Health

1838 321 304 222

Other Preparedness Vital statistics Injury Informatics Substance abuse Occupational Health Oral Health Genomics Mental Health Total

143 118 111 103 96 59 28 18 4 4 3370

“...there is a need for staff with new skills such as informatics, research, and evaluation."

Striking is the relatively large number of infectious disease epidemiologists which account for over half of all the epidemiologists employed (55%) and account for the largest share (338 or 28%) of the 1,119 new epidemiologists added since 2013.

In contrast, new substance abuse positions totaled 64 or about 5% of the new jobs. In the area of mental health, the report claims that only 9% of the estimated need for epidemiologists has been filled. This contrasts with infectious disease which has 84% of the need met and substance abuse which has 48% of need met. According to the report, over 60% of the states are understaffed in the substance abuse area and “in the eight states with 2015 age-adjusted opioid mortality rates exceeding 25 per 100,000 population, the median number of substance abuse epidemiologists was two, with a range of 1-7.”

"...over 60% of the states are understaffed in the substance abuse area..."

According to the report, “In many states, there is a misalignment between needs and resources. Moreover, heavy reliance on external funding, coupled with internal organizational issues, hamper states as they seek to meet designated priorities.”

- CSTE cont'd on page 12

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-CSTE cont'd from page 12

“...federal funds constituted 77% of funding for all epidemiologic activities..."

As an example of this challenge, the report states that “federal funds constituted 77% of funding for all epidemiologic activities ranging from 46% in low states to 99% in high states.

States themselves contributed only an average of 19% of epidemiologic funding with other external sources contributing a small fraction.

Salary Levels The report provides information about salaries for epidemiologists according to the academic degree held by the employees and the level of seniority in the organization ranging from entry level to the State Epidemiologist position. (Table 4 in the report is provided below).

"...the high end of the MPH and PHD categories differed by only $9K."

For epidemiologists with an MPH, the median of all the minimum salaries documented in that education category was $47K with a range in median minimum from a low of $35K to a high of $75K. In that same category, the median of the maximum salaries reported was $82K with a range in median minimum from a low maximum salary of $49K to a high maximum salary of $150K. Doctoral Level Epidemiologists

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For epidemiologists with a PHD, the median of all the minimum salaries documented in that education category was $58K with a range in median minimum from a low of $38K to a high of $69K. In that same category, the median of the maximum salaries reported was $98K with a range in minimum from a low maximum salary of $52K to a high maximum salary of $159K. Interestingly, the differences in the

medians of the maximum salaries for MPH and PHD level employees was $16K and the high end of the MPH and PHD categories differed by only $9K. Salaries in the MD and DVM categories were higher. Also, salaries increased with increasing seniority or level, with deputy and state epidemiologists having substantially higher median salary ranges that epidemiologists at senior level and below. Some of this difference could be attributed to the MD or DVM backgrounds of many state epidemiologists.

Methods--Who To Count The definition of epidemiologist for purposes of this report was a definition offered by John Last in 2001, namely “an investigator who studies the occurrence of disease or other health related conditions or events in defined populations. The control of disease in populations is often also considered to be a task for the epidemiologist.

To be counted as epidemiologists were all persons employed by the state; all those working at the state level who are either federal assignees or contract employees; and state employees assigned to work at a local of regional level. To make the decision on who to include, respondents were instructed to focus on the functions performed and not on the job title.

Limitations Limitations cited in the report included the fact that the count of epidemiologists excludes those employed by city and county health - CSTE cont'd on page 13

-CSTE cont'd from page 14 departments and may have excluded persons who were generalists not dedicated to a specific program area and any epidemiologists working outside the state health agency such as those in a mental health agency.

Estimates of epidemiologists should be considered minimum estimates.

A separate assessment of epidemiologists in county or large city health departments has been undertaken separately and is expected to be released in the new two months, according to Arrazola. In some ways, the tasks for epidemiologists are different between the state and local levels. Local epidemiologists are more likely to be involved with local clinicians and doing more “shoeleather� epidemiology or case investigations. Whereas state epidemiologists provide additional support when needed for local outbreaks and lead surveillance across the state and for chronic conditions, injury, or substance use.

Recommendations CSTE makes five recommendations in its report.

1. Develop a strategy to increase epidemiology capacity, especially in evaluation and research and in underdeveloped program areas such as substance abuse, mental health, and informatics.

2. Review and develop new recruitment and retention strategies for state health department epidemiologists.

3. Maintain efforts to establish training

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standards for applied public health epidemiologists and to provide training to ensure a sustained, qualified and competent public health epidemiology workforce.

4. Explore the gap between state public health mandates and state capacity to meet those mandates.

5. Conduct future assessments.

According to Arrazola, CSTE would like to see a coordinated, multi-party effort to address not only the shortage of epidemiologists but also the need for specialized cross cutting skills across the public health workforce as described by other recent assessments such as the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey. This is because the factors driving the current shortages and affecting recruitment and retention are relevant across disciplines subject to the constraints of working within governmental agencies, she noted.

To access the full report, visit: https://bit.ly/2Jv9Lkq - CSTE cont'd on page 14

Follow us on our Facebook page for earliest notification of job listings and breaking news.

“Estimates of epidemiologists should be considered minimum estimates."

"...the tasks for epidemiologists are different at different government levels..."

-CSTE cont'd from page 14

2018 NATIONAL SURVEY OF FACULTY SALARIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY: ADD YOUR INFORMATION TO THE MIX! The Epidemiology Monitor has partnered with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) and the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (DBEI) of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine to conduct a new, expanded survey that will help epidemiology and preventive-medicine department leaders promote competitive faculty salaries.

Contribute to this important effort and receive a report of the results! To join our list of 100+ department and divisions or to ask questions, contact the EpiMonitor, epimon@aol.com, by August 13 and complete the survey within one month.

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Notes on People Honored: Julie Buring, with the Distinguished Service to the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) award. Dr Buring is currently Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Defeated: Eric Ding, in a four-way Democratic primary race in the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He obtained 18% of the votes in a four way primary race in which the winner won 36% of the vote. Ding is an epidemiologist, nutritionist, and health economist and a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, where he was a faculty member.

Honored: Stephen Cole, with the Excellence in Education award from the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER). Dr Cole is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-director of the Causal Inference Research Laboratory there.

Honored: Sonja Swanson with the Brian MacMahon Early Career Award by the Society for Epidemiologic Research. Dr Swanson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Erasmus Medical Center and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Appointed: Donna Spiegelman, as Director of the Yale’s newly established Center for Methods of Implementation and Prevention Science effective July 1.

Spiegelman was recently named the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health. She will work to promote the development of methods to accelerate the speed and breadth of adoption of research findings into public health practice and develop and assess sustainable, cost-effective interventions to improve public health domestically and around the world.

Spiegelman joins Yale from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Notes on People Running for Office: Abdul El Sayed as a Democratic candidate for governor in Michigan. El Sayed is in a three candidate primary scheduled for August 7. He has served as a faculty member in the Departments of Epidemiology at Michigan and Columbia and as the health director in Detroit. According to Bloomberg news, El Sayed is supporting a tax increase to pay for a statewide government-run healthcare system, going further than his party’s candidates in other parts of the country who are also calling for expanded coverage.

Honored: Allen Wilcox with the Kenneth Rothman Career Accomplishment award given by the Society for Epidemiologic Research. Dr. Wilcox is a senior epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Honored: Kara Rudolph with the Lilienfeld Postdoctoral Prize Paper award. Dr Randolph is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

Honored: Michael Harhay with the Tyroler Student Prize Paper award given by the Society for Epidemiologic Research. Dr Harhay is a trainee at the University of Pennsylvania where he completed his PhD and MS in Statistics.

Testified: Lorelei Mucci and Beate Ritz at the Monsanto trial about the Roundup pesticide. Mucci is a Harvard epidemiologist who stated, according to press accounts, that the body of evidence shows no positive association between glyphosate and NHL. Ritz is a UCLA epidemiologyist who reportedly refuted that there was no connection between glyphosate and non Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). The judge allowed the complaints against Monsanto to move forward.

Near Term Epidemiology Event Calendar Every December The Epidemiology Monitor dedicates that issue to a calendar of events for the upcoming year. However that often means we don't have full information for events later in the year.

Thus an online copy exists on our website that is updated regularly. This year we will print upcoming events in the Monitor monthly. To view the full year please go to: http://www.epimonitor.net/Events

August 2018 August 6-24 https://tinyurl.com/y7pjlfuz Summer Program / Erasmus MC / Rotterdam, The Netherlands August 14-17 https://tinyurl.com/y7jrz5qy Short Course: Masterclass - Advances in Genomic Research / Erasmus MC / Rotterdam, The Netherlands August 21-24 https://tinyurl.com/yb8bq285 Summer Program: Erasmus Summer Lectures / Erasmus MC / Rotterdam, The Netherlands August 22-26 https://tinyurl.com/ybpfpuch Conference: 34th ICPE Conference / International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology / Prague, Czech Republic August 22- Sept 6 http://ecte.org/ Short Course: 36th Course in Tropical Epidemiology / European Course in Tropical Epidemiology (ECTE) / Gothenberg, Sweden August 26-29 https://tinyurl.com/yb9dnjws Conference: International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID 2018) / Multiple Sponsors including CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) / Atlanta, GA August 26-30 https://tinyurl.com/y8fn6rg8 Conference: 24th Australian Statistical Conference & 39th Conference of the International Society for Clinical Biostatistics / Victorian Center for Biostatistics / Melbourne, Australia August 26-30 https://tinyurl.com/y74bec4j Conference: 2018 Joint Meeting of The International Society for Environmental Epidemiology & The International Society of Exposure Science / ISEE-ISES / Ottawa, Canada

September 2018 September 10-14 https://tinyurl.com/zmm62v8 Workshop: 9th Annual Physical Activity Measurement Seminar 2018 / MRC (Medical Research Council) Epidemiology Unit / Cambridge, England September 12-14 https://tinyurl.com/y87jdvbe Conference: 2018 MCH (Maternal Child Health) Epidemiology Conference / CithMatch / Portland, OR September 12-14 https://tinyurl.com/y82t85vk Short Course: Nondetects and other Types of Missing Data / University of Basel / Basel, Switzerland September 23-27 https://tinyurl.com/ybkrql4q Conference: 10th Union for Health Promotion and Education European Conference and International Forum for Health Promotion Research / Multiple Sponsors / Trondheim, Norway

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Near Term Epidemiology Event Calendar August 2018 continued from page 18 September 24-25 https://tinyurl.com/y8jb7ac4 Conference: ACE 2018 / American College of Epidemiology / Cincinnati, OH Sep 24-Oct 19 https://tinyurl.com/lt9axvg Short Course: International Course in Applied Epidemiology with Epi Info Training / Emory University / Atlanta, GA September-TBA https://tinyurl.com/y8snxq3f Short Course: Advanced Course in Epidemiological Analysis / London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine / London, England September-TBA https://tinyurl.com/y85qukrj Short Course: Practical Pharmacoepidemiology / London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine / London, England

Letters to the Editor Greetings Epi Monitor, Just read a back issue of the Epi Monitor from Jan 2018. Loved the list of public health issues and was struck by the absence of the new wave of opioid deaths. This is not my area of specialty, and yes, drug addiction has been within the purview of epidemiology for some time. But the stream of new highly potent, highly addictive pain killers, and the role the pharmaceutical industry has played in marketing them seems to pose yet a new public health problem for the United States.

Thanks for making me think about these issues!

Melissa J. Perry, ScD, MHS, FACE The George Washington University e-mail mperry@gwu.edu

2018 NATIONAL SURVEY OF FACULTY SALARIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY: ADD YOUR INFORMATION TO THE MIX! The Epidemiology Monitor has partnered with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) and the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (DBEI) of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine to conduct a new, expanded survey that will help epidemiology and preventive-medicine department leaders promote competitive faculty salaries.

Contribute to this important effort and receive a report of the results! To join our list of 100+ department and divisions or to ask questions, contact the EpiMonitor, epimon@aol.com, by August 13 and complete the survey within one month.

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Post-Doctoral Fellows in Cardiovascular / Genetic Epidemiology Tulane University Translational Sciences Institute is seeking applications for post-doctoral fellow positions in Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Genetic Epidemiology. Candidates with training and research experience in epidemiology or genomics are encouraged to apply. The post-doctoral fellow will have the opportunity to work on several large on-going epidemiological/genomics studies of cardiometabolic diseases at the Tulane University Health Sciences Center. We offer a supportive environment for post-doctoral fellows to participate in these funded studies and develop manuscripts and grant proposals with study investigators. Qualifications for post-doctoral fellow candidates include a doctoral degree in epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, or genomics. Outstanding post-doctoral fellows will have the opportunity to become a COBRE Junior Faculty Investigator with salary and research support from the NIH funded COBRE program. Review of applications will begin as soon as possible and applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.

APPLY: Applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and at least three letters of recommendation to: Jiang He, MD, PhD, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2000, New Orleans, LA 70112. E-mail Address: jhe@tulane.edu.

TULANE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

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Director of Injury Monitoring and Protection Divers Alert Network (DAN), the world’s most recognized and respected dive safety organization, has remained committed to the safety and well-being of divers for more than 35 years. The organization’s research, medical services and global-response initiatives create an extensive network that supports divers with vital services such as injury prevention, safety and educational programs and lifesaving evacuations. Every year hundreds of thousands of divers around the world look to DAN as their dive safety organization. Join the DAN community or learn more at DAN.org .

The DAN Director of Injury Monitoring and Prevention will be responsible for monitoring the incidence and trends of dive injuries; studying causes of injuries; developing, evaluating and implementing preventive interventions and advising industry leaders regarding the prevention of dive injuries. Responsibilities include directing daily activities regarding incidence, injuries and fatalities data collection and exploring additional sources of data. The position, based in Durham, North Carolina, will require supporting DAN initiatives, publishing scientific papers, writing articles for lay publications and lecturing at scientific and professional conferences, dive shows and other public events for divers and related professionals.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES • Direct the collection of dive accident data • Conduct epidemiological analysis of dive injuries • Assist with epidemiological analysis of insurance-loss data • Identify the most common causes of dive injuries • Conduct data analysis and write chapters for the DAN Annual Diving Report • Design and develop epidemiological studies and preventive interventions • Provide a plan and documentation for project implementation • Monitor project progress, compile annual reports, and publish scientific papers • Participate in companywide initiatives and public education efforts EDUCATION/TRAINING • MD or doctoral degree in population health or epidemiology, with the appropriate research background in dive safety, dive physiology and dive injuries • Advanced diving experience SKILLS • Project management • Research design and implementation • Epidemiological and statistical methods • Scientific writing • Writing for lay publications • Public speaking

To apply, send a letter and CV to: jobs@dan.org or Divers Alert Network Attn: HR/Personnel Department 6 W. Colony Place Durham, NC 27705.

DAN is an equal opportunity employer.

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