PhD Epidemiology Alumni

Yasamean (Yasi) Zamani-Hank - PhD in Epidemiolology 2022

I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine in the MSU College of Human Medicine. In this position, I lead the MSU Primary Care Research Collaborative, a practice-based research network with the purpose of enhancing research capacity in primary care settings across Michigan. My research focuses on understanding the socioecological factors which influence disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, including health policy, early life adversity, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.

I completed my PhD in Epidemiology from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 2022, where I specialized in social and perinatal epidemiology. Prior to pursuing my PhD, I was a public health consultant at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The PhD program provide me with the perfect opportunity to supplement my "real-world" public health experiences, and ultimately equipped me with the quantitative, theoretical, and analytical knowledge and skills to be a successful research scientist and to conduct research which addresses the significant maternal and child health problems facing our country today.

There are many key factors that contributed to my success as a doctoral student and early career researcher in academia. First and foremost, I received phenomenal, thoughtful mentorship by my primary advisor who supported and promoted my professional and personal growth, and well-being, throughout the program. My advisor held regular research meetings, which provided a helpful platform to receive peer-to-peer feedback and to receive personalized feedback on research work, presentations, and manuscripts. This supportive mentorship environment equipped me with the skills to become an independent investigator, research team collaborator, and critical thinker.

Additionally, I always felt supported by the faculty, the chair, and the graduate program director, for whom student success and support was always a mission. I am grateful to have had several wonderful mentors in the department, many whom continue to be my research collaborators and colleagues today. Another key factor that supported my success in the department is the IT staff who always made sure students had the tools and assistance they needed to complete their research and coursework. Furthermore, opportunities for peer leadership in the department also contributed to my professional growth, which is why I became Co-President of the Department's graduate student organization. This position allowed me the opportunity to promote and advocate for student professional development, collaborate with my peers to host seminars and other student events, and create a vibrant and supportive student environment.

For all these reasons, I am grateful to have pursued my PhD in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and I highly recommend this program to any prospective students who are considering a career in epidemiology or biostatistics.