Overview
I am primarily a health outcomes researcher who specializes in cancers and chronic age-related diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease and type II diabetes mellitus. However, I also write in epidemiology, demography, health economics and genetics. I am a specialist in the analysis of administrative big health data. My main contributions to scholarship can be summarized across three focus areas: health outcomes research, epidemiology and methodology, and health economics. Some of my most important findings are described below.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute
·
2024 - Present
Social Science Research Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Genome-Related Mechanisms Contributing to Differences in Alzheimer's Disease Incidence Between White and Black Older US Adults.
Journal Article Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · April 2025 In this manuscript, we leverage a modified GWAS algorithm adapted for use with multidimensional Cox models and data from the Health and Retirement Study to explore how genetic variation influences the size of the disparity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) incid ... Full text CiteANALYTIC METHODS FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIA
Conference Innovation in Aging · December 31, 2024 AbstractAnalysis of Medicare data reveals persistent health disparities related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) in the United States. These disparities were measured using empirically ... Full text CiteTRAFFIC-RELATED AIR POLLUTION AND INFECTIONS JOINTLY INCREASE THE RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN OLDER ADULTS
Conference Innovation in Aging · December 31, 2024 AbstractAccumulating evidence points to a potentially major role of vulnerability to infections in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) development, although the exact mechanism is not clear. AD is a multifactorial diso ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Leveraging population-based human data to uncover mechanisms connecting Alzheimer's disease and common infections and facilitate vaccines repurposing for AD prevention
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2026Genetic Modulations of Morbidity Compression: A Population-Based Study
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2020 - 2026Racial and Geographic Disparities in Risk and Survival of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Effects of Over/UnderDiagnosis and Disease Severity
ResearchSenior Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of South Florida ·
2013
Ph.D.
University of South Florida ·
2006
M.A.
University of South Florida ·
2002
M.P.H.
University of South Florida ·
2000
B.A.