PhD Epidemiology Alumni

Mike Thompson, PhD in Epidemiology 2015

I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Section of Health Services Research and Quality in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. My research focuses on evaluating the intended and unintended effects of healthy policy, health system redesign, and changes in clinical practice on quality of care and outcomes. I frequently use epidemiologic and statistical methods to analyze large administrative and clinical databases in an array of clinical contexts, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, hospital readmissions, and hospital-acquired conditions.

My experiences as a doctoral student in the MSU Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics laid the foundation for my success. The extensive training in epidemiologic and statistical methods provided me with a valuable set of tools to conduct rigorous health services research. Additionally, the departmental emphasis on developing scientific and grant writing skills have enabled me to communicate my research effectively, and have already produced several high-impact publications. Above all, the thoughtful and personal mentoring I received from faculty in the department aided in developing my career trajectory, and molded me into a successful independent investigator.