Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health

Dr. Lorraine Alexander serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Director of Interprofessional Education and Practice at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. With over 20 years of experience in distance education, she has pioneered innovative approaches to public health education and workforce development. Her academic credentials include a DrPH and MPH in Biohazard Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BS in Microbiology/Public Health from Michigan State University. As Faculty Director of the Online Certificate in Field Epidemiology Graduate Program, she has been instrumental in developing competency-based curriculum and distance learning programs. Her expertise is recognized through memberships in prestigious organizations including Delta Omega Society and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. Through her work with the North Carolina Partnership for Excellence in Applied Epidemiology, she bridges academic research with practical public health applications. Her contributions to interprofessional education since 2014 include developing courses and advising the Gillings Interprofessional Student Group

Dr. Karin Yeatts serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health, where she combines expertise in environmental health and epidemiology. Her academic journey includes a BA in chemistry from Bowdoin College, an MS in environmental science and engineering from Virginia Tech, an MS in epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a PhD in epidemiology from UNC School of Public Health. Her research focuses on two main areas: the health effects of air pollution and asthma epidemiology, collaborating with major organizations including the CDC, EPA, and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. As lead faculty instructor for several key courses including "Introduction to Epidemiology" and "Methods in Field Epidemiology," she has developed innovative teaching approaches and online training modules for the graduate certificate program in field epidemiology. Her work bridges multiple disciplines through affiliations with the UNC Public Health Leadership program, the Institute of Public Health, and the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology. Through her teaching and research, she continues to advance our understanding of environmental health impacts while training the next generation of epidemiologists.