I am an epidemiologist in the Department of Emergency Medicine with a medical background and 29 years of experience at the intersection of medicine, public health, and data science. I began my career as a rural physician, where managing limited resources sparked my interest in research and epidemiology.

After graduating from medical school in 1996, I became the sole physician at a remote rural health center. I was responsible for providing medical care to a large population, day and night. One of my biggest challenges was determining which patients with mild head injury (MHI) truly needed a head CT scan. Referring every MHI case was not an option. Our center had only one ambulance, and the nearest hospital with CT imaging was three hours away. Sending a patient unnecessarily meant that for at least six hours, no other critically ill patients could be transported. But the alternative was just as daunting—what if a patient who seemed stable later developed a life-threatening intracranial hematoma? By then, it would be too late.

While severe cases required immediate referral, mild head injuries presented a constant dilemma. Each decision carried risks, and I needed a better way to determine which patients truly required CT imaging—one that balanced limited resources with patient safety. This challenge defined my experience as a rural physician and ultimately shaped my career path. Seeking a solution, I pursued an MPH in public health research, followed by a PhD in epidemiology with a focus on biostatistics and research methodology. For my PhD dissertation, I used clinical data and statistical modeling to develop a decision rule for CT scanning in MHI in remote areas with limited resources. This work was later published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, marking the beginning of my academic career. My experience in a resource-limited setting made me realize the power of research in shaping medical decision-making and improving patient outcomes on a broader scale.

Since then, I have led numerous health sciences research projects, coauthoring over 200 peer-reviewed publications. With a strong foundation in biostatistics, I have conducted data analyses for most of my coauthored papers. My research impact is reflected in an h-index of 43 in Google Scholar and 28 in Scopus, highlighting my contributions across clinical epidemiology, injury prevention, and public health. My research interests include educational research, clinical epidemiology, injury prevention, health care quality assessment, public health, and social determinants of health.

After joining the Center for Trauma and Injury Prevention Research (CTIPR) at UCI, I continued to apply my expertise to develop innovative solutions for pressing public health and safety challenges. Our team at CTIPR has developed pioneering initiatives that integrate research and technology to advance public health solutions.

One such initiative is the “UC Irvine’s Virtual Ambassador Program to prevent driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol (VAP)” led by Dr. Bharath Chakravarthy. We developed this novel approach to harness UCI’s commitment to social responsibility and the power of peer influence to reduce DUI incidents. Through VAP, UCI students promote sober driving within their social networks, acting as ambassadors for responsible behavior. The program launched in 2021 with funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and has grown steadily over four years. In 2024, a group of dedicated and socially responsible UCI students founded the “Drive Sober Orange County (DSOC)” campus organization and took over the program. This transition ensures that VAP remains sustainable and impactful under the leadership of enthusiastic and talented UCI students. DSOC empowers students to take action and make their community a safer and better place to live. Continued funding from OTS is a testament to the initiative’s merit and effectiveness.

Building on this success, we conceived another project to improve traffic safety through community partnership: Road Users’ Voice – Harnessing Community Insights to Improve Pedestrian Safety (RUVoice), also funded by OTS. Implemented under Dr. Shahram Lotfipour‘s leadership, RUVoice introduces an innovative model in traffic safety aimed at harnessing the insights of everyday road users. This project recognizes that local community members often have valuable observations and suggestions that can significantly enhance pedestrian safety. By proactively collecting these insights and bridging them to local leaders and policymakers, we aim to tap into this underutilized potential, enhancing community partnerships, democratizing traffic safety resource allocation, and ultimately saving lives.

These projects exemplify my commitment to turning epidemiological insights into practical, community-based interventions. My goal is to create safer and healthier communities by combining rigorous research methodologies with innovative solutions and strong community partnerships.

Preventable injuries claimed 222,698 lives in the U.S. in 2023. Through research, innovation, and community-driven solutions, we can change that. Let’s transform injury data into action and build a safer, healthier future together.