DrPH Student Profiles

Since 2020, I have worked as a data analyst and epidemiologist for the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program. I earned my bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Oregon in 2018, and my MPH in biostatistics from the Mailman School of Public Health in 2020. I am interested in occupational and environmental health, with a specific focus on the health of 9/11 responders. My research to date has primarily concerned respiratory and cardiovascular disease, but I am shifting focus towards cancer epidemiology.

Research Interests

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Cancer
• Respiratory Disease

I am a Doctor of Public Health student in the Department of Epidemiology. Currently, I serve as a Quality, Safety, and Data Analytics Manager at Calvary Hospital. In my role, I strive to elevate patient care standards while streamlining departmental operations through data analysis, visualization, and lean methodology. In my academic pursuits, I am interested in cancer research, particularly cervical cancer, and understanding health disparities among Central Asian immigrant communities. My commitment to cancer research is fueled by my desire to identify and address systemic barriers that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities within healthcare. I hold a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from SUNY Downstate School of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Nutrition Sciences from Brooklyn College. Ultimately, my goal as a DrPH Epidemiology student is to build myself as a dynamic leader and help transform healthcare systems by integrating research, data, and community engagement to reduce disparities and ensure that all patients—regardless of background—receive the highest standard of cancer care. 

Research Interests

• Social Determinants of Health
• Cancer Epidemiology
• Spatial Epidemiology
• Global Health

I am a doctoral candidate in Epidemiology. My research is focused on sexual/ reproductive health and mental health in vulnerable populations, both in the US and globally. I am interested in the intersection of public health research and practice: implementation science and research that directly informs policies and programs.

Currently, I work on the Asenze study, a longitudinal cohort of children/adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, studying the long-term impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) in families to identify ways to prevent or minimize harmful impacts on children and adolescents. I also work on HIV-focused research, and recently led an evaluation of an ICAP HIV/TB program in Eswatini.

Prior to the DrPH program, I earned my BS from Cornell University in 2008, and my MPH in Sexuality and Health from the Department of Population and Family Health at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health in 2012. In my work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab research center, and the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, I managed research projects and conducted analyses on maternal & child health and access to health care. I also worked in community health in NYC for several years.

Research Interests

• Sexual and Reproductive Health
• HIV
• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
• Mental Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Program Evaluation
• Implementation Science

I have been engaged in public health research and practice for over 15 years. My professional background is largely based within the non-profit sector, where I remain engaged in research pertaining to health services, comparative effectiveness, and patient-centered outcomes. Particularly, I have contributed to a range of studies that are designed to support medically underserved communities that traditionally have high rates of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. This work involves collaborating with federally qualified health centers and safety-net hospitals, in New York and throughout the U.S., to understand barriers to care while examining intervention implementation and effectiveness.

Currently, I am exploring the intersection of care management and health policy. I plan to use mixed-methods approaches to ascertain how federal and state policies, evidence-based care models, and quality improvement initiatives impact health outcomes among patients with complex medical needs. My experience with program evaluation, data analysis, and project management will facilitate this endeavor. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wesleyan University and completed a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology, with a certificate in Chronic Disease, at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. My interests include choreographing, dancing, and creating pencil illustrations.

Research Interests

• Chronic Disease Management
• Quality Improvement
• Health Policy
• Care Models
• Implementation Science

I am deeply interested in disease prevention, screening, and diagnosis, with a focus on improving implement strategies in these critical areas. My research spans from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions, to oncology, pain management, and mental health. Over the past eight years, I have managed clinical research in both CRO and hospital settings, evaluating the risks, effectiveness, and outcomes of clinical products and interventions across diverse therapeutic areas. My work also involves assessing the safety and benefits of drugs and devices used in treating chronic diseases.  Hence, I am particularly keen to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate the development of novel therapeutics, bridging the gap from laboratory research to patient care. I hold an MPH in epidemiology from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, a bachelor’s degree in psychology (Pre-Medicine Curriculum) from George Washington University, and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence: Healthcare from MIT. With have 10+ publications and conference presentations in diverse therapeutic areas, I am eager to contribute to advancements in public health and clinical practice. In my personal time, I enjoy practicing Tae Kwon Do, surfing, hiking, traveling, and trying new foods.

Research interests:

• Chronic Disease (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular)
• Oncology
• Mental Health + Global Mental Health
• Pain Management
• Artificial Intelligence Applications in Healthcare
• Disease Prevention
• Pharmacoepidemiology

I am a DrPH candidate in the Epidemiology department. I received my BSA in Biology and certification in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin and my MPH in Epidemiology and certification in Applied Biostatistics from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. I currently work in the Transplant Quality and Patient Safety division at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where I focus on ensuring compliance with national regulations, improving patient access to the transplant waitlist, and advancing post-transplant care for all the solid organ transplant programs under the Columbia University and Weill Cornell medical centers. I am also involved in transplant-related research efforts, such as those with the CURE team focusing on the epidemiological and clinical trends of kidney transplants. At Mailman, my research interests lie in understanding the mechanism through which social determinants of health shape access to and quality of cancer care in the US. Outside of my professional and academic endeavors, I enjoy rock climbing, Broadway shows, tennis, and live music. 

Research Interests

• Social Determinants of Health
• Cancer Epidemiology
• Spatial Epidemiology
• Global Health