[Field epidemiology: core theories and subdisciplinary perspectives]

This paper synthesizes domestic and international literature as well as disciplinary development practices to propose a theoretical framework for field epidemiology, establishing its legitimacy as a distinct branch of epidemiology. Field epidemiology focuses on the rapid investigation, risk communication, and emergency intervention of public health emergencies, incorporating multidisciplinary theories and methods from epidemiology, management, public health laboratory techniques, communication studies, law, and information technology. Its interdisciplinary nature underscores its integration with the humanities and social sciences, emphasizing the bidirectional interaction between field epidemiologists and the public. Characterized by timeliness, complexity, social relevance, legal considerations, decision-making approaches, and collaborative efforts, field epidemiology not only extends the scope of traditional epidemiology but also enhances the scientific rigor of public health emergency management. Greater involvement of higher education institutions in advancing field epidemiology as a discipline could bridge the gap between theoretical research and public health practice while accelerating the field's overall progress and development in China.