Why is infectious disease important?
Infectious disease medicine is a constantly evolving field that can significantly impact individuals, communities, and global health. In light of recent events and ongoing global health challenges, the demand for skilled infectious disease specialists has grown.
The cause of this is due to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, Ebola, Zika, and antibiotic-resistant infections. All of these events have highlighted the need for experts who can understand and respond to these threats effectively.
While a career in infectious disease may come with challenges, the potential to positively impact public health, provide patient care, engage in intellectual pursuits, and contribute to global health efforts can make it a rewarding and fulfilling career choice.
The importance of combating infectious diseases is undeniable, and in this blog, we will uncover the different types of infectious disease roles and the compelling reasons why individuals should consider a career in this highly respected and valued field.
Infectious disease careers:
Infection Control Practitioner: Infection control practitioners play a crucial role in preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections. With a PgDip or MSc in infectious disease, you can work in healthcare facilities, developing and implementing infection control policies, conducting surveillance, providing education and training, and collaborating with healthcare teams to minimise the spread of infections. This involvement allows you to make a difference in individual patients' lives by providing timely and appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and support. Helping patients recover from infections and improve their health outcomes can be deeply fulfilling.
Research Scientist: Working within academic institutions, government agencies, or pharmaceutical companies, you would be involved in designing and conducting studies, analysing data, and contributing to the development of new diagnostics, treatments, or prevention strategies for infectious diseases. The continuous learning and problem-solving aspects of the field can provide ongoing intellectual challenge and satisfaction.
Epidemiologist: A degree in Infectious Disease can qualify you for positions as an epidemiologist. In this role, you would study patterns, causes, and effects of diseases within populations, investigate outbreaks, conduct data analysis, and contribute to public health strategies for disease prevention and control.
Clinical Research Coordinator: As a clinical research coordinator, you would oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of clinical trials related to infectious diseases. Your responsibilities may include participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, ensuring regulatory compliance, and coordinating with research teams and study participants. Infectious disease medicine often involves collaboration with professionals from various disciplines, and this multidisciplinary approach fosters teamwork, diversity of perspectives, and opportunities for learning and professional growth.
Health Policy Analyst: Completing a PGDip or MSc can also lead to opportunities in health policy analysis. In this role, you would contribute to the development and evaluation of policies related to infectious disease prevention, surveillance, and control. You may work in government agencies, think tanks, or research organisations. This type of work can have a transformative impact on patient care and public health, potentially eradicating diseases and creating healthier populations for years to come.
Global Health Specialist: If you are interested in working on infectious diseases within a global health context, you can pursue roles as a global health specialist. This may involve working in international organisations, developing and implementing programmes to address infectious diseases in resource-limited settings, providing technical assistance, and contributing to capacity-building efforts. Infectious diseases know no boundaries and this broader perspective can offer a sense of purpose and contribute to making a positive difference in the world.
In addition, it is not just skilled infectious disease specialists that play a crucial role in protecting public health, global health security and the economy. Additionally, students also play an important role in this field, often contributing to research efforts while completing an infectious disease degree. You don’t have to be working in the field and you don’t have to wait to get qualified, you can start making an impact whilst you’re studying our popular infectious disease course and put your new skills and knowledge to the test.
If you’re seriously considering a career in infectious disease, then gaining a qualification is the best place to start…
Study of infectious diseases
This field requires a diverse set of skills and our Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Infectious Disease will help you gain a range of invaluable skills, approaches, new perspectives and ways of thinking.
On completion of this popular new course, you will come away with a systematic understanding of major infectious diseases, from pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment. You will also be able to communicate effective interventions to protect populations and initiate and lead complex processes within the context of a multidisciplinary team. You will be guided by your expert faculty and interacting with your peers, exploring clinical scenarios based on authentic events, and using reflective practice, enhancing both your individual and collective learning.
What’s more, due to the flexible, interactive nature of the programme, you are able to continuously test and apply your newly acquired knowledge and skills in your daily practice.
Nothing is more exciting than pushing your boundaries, taking yourself out of your comfort zone and taking on new challenges, which is what this course is all about.
If you wish to be on the frontline to combat diseases and ultimately help save lives, then view our course page to find out more and create an application today!