Question

Who is the father of epidemiology?

• A. John Snow
• B. Paracelsus
• C. Andreas Vesalius
• D. Ambroise Pare

Hint:

When you think of John Snow, remember two things: \textbf{Cholera} and the \textbf{Broad Street Pump}. His investigation is the quintessential example of "shoe-leather epidemiology" – going out into the field to collect data and solve a public health crisis.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Recall the foundational figures in public health and epidemiology. Step 1: The title "father of epidemiology" is given to the individual whose work established the core methods and principles of the field.
Step 2: Identify the key contribution of John Snow.
Step 2: John Snow (1813-1858), an English physician, is considered the father of modern epidemiology for his groundbreaking work on a cholera outbreak in London in 1854. He meticulously mapped the cases and traced the source to a single contaminated public water pump on Broad Street. By having the pump handle removed, he stopped the outbreak.
Step 3: Connect his work to epidemiology.
Step 3: His investigation was a classic epidemiological study. He used mapping (spatial distribution), data collection, comparison of case rates, and formulated and tested a hypothesis, leading to a successful public health intervention. This systematic approach laid the foundation for epidemiology. The other individuals listed are important historical medical figures, but not in the founding of epidemiology.