Profession of female epidemiologist: says an active doctor

Read Ekaterina’s interview about the difficult profession of women and watch all episodes of “Point Zéro” exclusively in online cinema Ivy.

*Candidate of medical sciences, epidemiologist at University Clinical Hospital No. 1 and the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Sechenov University Clinical Center. Expert at the Coordination and Analysis Center for Ensuring Chemical and Biological Safety of Sechenov University.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your job? Is it difficult for a woman to do this job?

After graduating from university, I immediately started working in a “Covid” hospital, it was 2019, the “first” wave, so we still didn’t have a complete understanding of this disease. I had to work a lot in difficult conditions, without days off.

To organize preventive measures, an epidemiologist must have a certain character: he must be strict and unconditional, so in this regard it is easier for men than for women. Women tend to be soft-spoken and compromising. An epidemiologist must be principled, honest and persistent, because she must be able to defend her position against those who violate health legislation.

An epidemiologist must be prepared for constant painstaking work, capable of abstract logical thinking, have an analytical mind and a large amount of long-term memory. I try to develop these qualities and other soft skills.

How dangerous is the profession of epidemiologist really? Or is it just an illusion that you are constantly at risk of infection?

An epidemiologist is a multi-faceted physician who saves lives on a population level. We have a huge responsibility. Epidemiologists can work in the scientific field: for example, in research institutes, study new risk factors for the emergence and development of infectious and non-infectious diseases, analyze the incidence of existing diseases, predict the emergence of new cases and conduct epidemiological studies. Unexpectedly, for this you need to know basic programming languages.

And most doctors are employed at the practical level: this is hospital epidemiology and the state sanitary and epidemiological service, where the risk of contracting an infectious disease is high. Especially if localization and elimination work is carried out at the origin of the spread of any infectious disease.

The epidemiologist is the main person whose decisions and actions determine whether the spread of diseases will occur or whether he will be able to prevent it and eliminate the epidemic. An epidemiologist must carry out organizational work to prevent mass infectious diseases: for example, ensuring medical control of the health of the population, introducing restrictive diet measures – observation and quarantine, and carrying out health awareness work among Population. At the same time, the epidemiologist must be at the epicenter of events, and these always carry enormous risks.

Which viruses are more dangerous for women than men? Is there such a division?

These viruses include the human papilloma virus. According to the latest data, this has caused more cases of cancer in women than in men. If we talk about viruses that a pregnant woman can transmit to her fetus during pregnancy and childbirth, we can add human immunodeficiency virus, measles, rubella and chickenpox.

What are the pleasures of your work? What do you like?

The profession of epidemiologist has many interesting aspects. I really enjoy doing health investigations, it’s like a police investigation into a nosocomial infection. In other words, the epidemiologist determines the cause and effect relationship between risk factors and the pathology they cause. It is the process of investigation that is fascinating, and when I get to the bottom of the truth, I experience a feeling of satisfaction, inspiration and joy due to the feeling of accomplishing a task and help society.

I am also very happy that the work of an epidemiologist involves teamwork and interaction with other specialists, which is always interesting (a lot of new acquaintances and friends) – working together is several times more productive than do it alone.

I also really like teaching, explaining some difficult issues, and one of the responsibilities of an epidemiologist is to conduct hygiene education and educate citizens about the prevention of various diseases.

What habits should everyone adopt to help prevent epidemics?

To make at least a small feasible contribution to the prevention of epidemics, everyone should get into the habit of:

Was the consulting experience for the “Point Zéro” series your first? What do you remember most?

The experience of viewing the “Zero Point” series was my first. It was very interesting and exciting to work on such a project. I especially remember the day of filming, in which I was directly involved, it was necessary to color the “biomaterial” according to the Romanovsky-Giemsa method, I carried out the entire coloring process, that is, I was the main character’s understudy.

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