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Semra Ozdemir

Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences

Overview


Dr. Ozdemir is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University and is affiliated with Duke Clinical Research Institute. She also holds a joint appointment at the Signature Programme in Health Services and Systems Research at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Dr. Ozdemir’s research focuses on three areas of medical decision making: 1) assessing individuals’ preferences and values for healthcare services and products, 2) understanding the medical decision-making process among patients, their family caregivers, and clinicians, and 3) developing decision aids or tools to help individuals make better-informed medical decisions. She uses survey methods, cohort studies, and implementation science principles to conduct research in these areas.

Dr. Ozdemir is an expert in stated-preference methods and shared decision-making tools. Dr. Ozdemir led a large team of health communication and decision science experts and clinicians in the development of an educational and preference-based decision aid for older patients with end-stage kidney disease who are considering dialysis or kidney supportive care. She is an Associate Editor for Value in Health and has served on the editorial boards for Medical Decision Making and Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. She is also the co-chair of the Shared Decision Making Special Interest Group for the Society for Medical Decision Making.

Dr. Ozdemir has a personal interest and commitment to eliminating disparities in making quality medical decisions and promoting diversity stemming from her personal experience, professional career, and many years of living and working in different countries. She loves running, paddling, travelling, and cheering for her sons in their soccer games and bike races.

Areas of expertise: Medical decision making, shared decision making, health preference assessment, stated-preference methods, decision aid research.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2023 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2023 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2025 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications


Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in the Last Year of Life: The COMPASS Cancer Cohort Study.

Journal Article J Pain Symptom Manage · April 2025 CONTEXT: There has been growing interest in the role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of end-of-life care. OBJECTIVES: This study prospectively examined the prevalence, predictors and outcomes of ingestible CAM use among cancer patie ... Full text Link to item Cite

Establishing Research Priorities in Geriatric Nephrology: A Delphi Study of Clinicians and Researchers.

Journal Article Am J Kidney Dis · March 2025 RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Despite substantial growth of the population of older adults with kidney disease, there remains a lack of evidence to guide clinical care for this group. The Kidney Disease and Aging Research Collaborative conducted a Delphi study to ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Harnessing the Power of Benefit-Transfer Methods for Informed Regulatory Decision-Making: A Case Study on Diabetes Medical Devices

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Food and Drug Administration · 2024 - 2028

FDA - BAA Clinical Evidence on the impact of osseointegrated limb prostheses

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Food and Drug Administration · 2023 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2013 Ph.D.