Epidemiologist

Kevin Pollock is an epidemiologist who works for Health Protection Scotland. His role involves studying the way disease spreads and helping to protect the public from exposure to hazards that may make them ill.

How would you outline your role?

I have two roles. As an epidemiologist, I am responsible for four work areas: surveillance (monitoring the health hazards that people are exposed to), operational support (providing information and support to consultants and other healthcare professionals during outbreaks and incidents of infectious disease), research, and lecturing at universities. I am also team leader for my section, which involves managing the team and dealing with job appraisals, and any other human resources issues.

What are your main responsibilities?

I manage two projects. One is a surveillance project monitoring haemolytic uraemic syndrome (this is a form of kidney failure) and other disorders of the blood. The other is a research project designed to analyse blood donor samples to see if they have been exposed to the parasite Cryptosporidium through drinking water, and what difference a new water treatment plant is making.

The work involves maintaining databases, interpreting statistics and writing reports and papers. I also share responsibility for maintaining a national database on Cryptosporidium and other parasitic infectious agents, and produce information from the database for national and international agencies such as the World Health Organisation, European Agencies Veterinary Laboratories and others.

Do you have a typical routine?

My work routine varies. However, during an outbreak of infectious disease I spend most of my time on operational support, trying to ensure that the health service reacts in the most efficient, effective way to prevent the spread of disease.

What hours do you work?

I am contracted to work 37 hours a week on a flexitime system. If I work enough extra hours I can take up to two days off each month.

What is your working environment like?

I work in an open plan office and spend most of my time at a computer, but I also attend incident or outbreak control team meetings at local health boards.

Who do you work with?

I work with other epidemiologists, consultant epidemiologists and office administrators, as well as members of the IT support team.

What skills or qualities do you need?

Spoken and written communication skills are essential. You must have project-management skills to be able to run several projects at once. Decision-making skills are important, and understanding people is helpful when managing a team.

Why did you choose this type of work?

After I finished my PhD I worked at a university, researching vaccines. I soon decided that an academic career didn't really suit me, so I chose my present job because it is a permanent position offering a good salary and the chance for progression.

What training have you done?

Since starting my present job, I have received lots of training including in project management, personal effectiveness and management issues. I have also gained a Masters Degree in Public Health.

Do you use any special tools or equipment?

I use specialist computer software designed for collecting and analysing statistics for epidemiological applications.

What do you like about your job?

The job is often fascinating and challenging, and I enjoy the freedom to organise my work and make decisions. The salary and pension scheme are good, and I get on well with my colleagues. I also like the fact that I have been encouraged to develop my skills.

What are the main challenges?

During outbreak control team meetings there is often quite a lot of pressure to make decisions. There is also pressure to meet targets.

How do you see your future?

One day I would like to be promoted to group operations manager and run the gastro-intestinal, environmental and travel health sections. In the long term, I would like to become a consultant epidemiologist.

Kevin's route

• H grades.
• Degree in Microbiology/Immunology.
• Masters Degree in Biomedical Science.
• PhD in Biochemical Parasitology.
• Postdoctoral research programme, working on vaccines.
• Began working for Health Protection Scotland.
• Masters Degree in Public Health whilst working.
• Promoted to team leader.

Kevin's tips

• Be open minded when looking for work - I didn't even know how to spell epidemiology before I saw this post advertised!
• Try to gain transferable skills that will be useful in more than one career.