Epidemiologists working in the area of injury and violence prevention conduct research describing injury hazards, identifying risk factors for injury and violence, and quantifying the effect of various interventions designed to prevent injury and violence. From a public health perspective, injury and violence is a major problem. However, it has received limited attention from epidemiologists. The scope of injury and violence control is broad, encompassing such diverse areas as:

Students in the Injury Epidemiology Program receive training in how to conduct high-quality epidemiologic research that directly addresses prevention opportunities. Furthermore, they learn how to engage with non-epidemiologists (ranging from policy makers to community advocates) to address interventions that (based on the best available scientific knowledge) will prevent injuries and violence. These experiences are gained through interdisciplinary opportunities in courses taught in the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Social Work, and in the Departments of Health Behavior and Health Education, Maternal and Child Health, Exercise and Sport Science, City and Regional Planning, and Public Policy, as well as through graduate research assistant opportunities with faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and UNC research centers, including the Injury Prevention Research Center, Center for Retired Athletes, Center for Highway Traffic Safety, Center for Regional and Urban Planning, and Thurston Bowles Arthritis Center.