Where are the Epidemiologists?

With the recent (over-blown) media-scare of H1N1 (i.e., Swine Flu), I began thinking about the qualifications of the faculty of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine as they relate to public health. As has been a consistent issue addressed by this blog, not one single member of the USD SOM has training (not even peripherally) in Public Health nor Epidemiology. To go even further, not one member of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine has any formal training in medical microbiology or infectious disease. With this in mind, I began to wonder and think about the qualifications of these "so-called" experts. I wonder, how it is possible, that a medical school faculty can be composed of individuals who have absolutely no expertise in the basics of halth care, and still consider "themselves" a school of medicine. Not one member of this faculty holds a Masters of Public Health (i.e., MPH), not one member has formal training in Infectious Disease, not one member has even a basic background (let alone formal training) in Epidemiology or Biostatistics.

South Dakota, are we immune from the threats of global health? South Dakota shouldn't we expect more?

These fields of study are of primary importance to the education of community health primary care physicians. Public health is our first line of defense and of essential importance. To have a School of Medicine faculty composure that is so grossly unqualified is embarassing!

South Dakota ... stand up ... lets make a change ... we deserve better!