Research
Research Vision
My mission statement as a researcher is to improve the health of the global population by preventing the development and progression of chronic disease. I use data science to make that vision a reality by allowing patients, clinicians, and health systems to make the most of the data we already collect. I love sharing my vision for interdisciplinary population data science and have given several national and grand-rounds talks on my research vision.
Preventive Medicine
I am interested in preventing disease, especially through novel strategies designed to improve implementation of high-value preventive interventions, including lifestyle management.
Data Science
I am an interdisciplinary data scientist with expertise in leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning both for prediction and for causal inference. I am dedicated to using data and AI as tools to promote health equity.
Causal Inference
Our most pressing public health problems won't be solved with a single drug alone. We need to reform our health system to improve patient outcomes, but we can't easily test these strategies in traditional randomized trials. I have a rich expertise in causal inference strategies such as Difference-in-Differences, regression discontinuity, and instrumental variable designs to generate high-quality evidence for clinicians, patients, and policymakers.
Chronic Disease Multimorbidity
Chronic disease is now the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, and more and more patients suffer from more than one chronic condition. The epidemic of chronic disease threatens to overwhelm health systems and reduce the quality of life of patients. I am a leader in research exploring how to prevent and manage multimorbidity in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, and metabolic diseases.
Health Equity
I have always believe that a system fails if it cannot deliver equitable care to its patients. Sadly, health systems in the United States and globally fail to do so. I have extensive experience in research to promote health equity through systemic change.
Neighborhood Factors in Health
I have led a large body of work demonstrating that the environment of the neighborhood we live in has a major impact on health outcomes. Structural factors like pollution, residential segregation, and structural racism may be important drivers of this relationship.
Dementia and Brain Health
The epidemic of dementia threatens to overwhelm society and tragically results in massive impacts on patients and families. Stroke likewise is a leading driver of morbidity and mortality. I am an experienced content expert in the population health of dementia and stroke and have led impactful nationwide studies to help promote brain health. I have a clinical interest in mid-life risk factor modification and health promotion.
Value in Healthcare
In the United States, we get far less for each dollar we spend on healthcare than in any other country in the world. I am interested in developing policies to promote high-value healthcare. I leverage my expertise in health policy and health systems design to perform impactful research to show how we can achieve the triple aim of reducing per-capita costs, improving population health outcomes, and optimizing the individual patient experience.
