School of Medicine
Showing 151-172 of 172 Results
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Shamsi Soltani
Ph.D. Student in Epidemiology and Clinical Research, admitted Autumn 2021
BioShamsi Soltani is a PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and a trainee with the Center for Population Health Sciences, both in the Stanford School of Medicine. For three years, she was a fellow in the Training in Advanced Data Analytics for Behavioral and Social Sciences (TADA-BSSR) program, supervised by Drs. Abby King and Lorene Nelson. Her dissertation work revolves around modifiable risk factors for suicide in LGBTQ+ populations and is mentored by Dr. Mitchell Lunn.
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Marcia L. Stefanick, Ph.D.
Professor (Research) of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research Center), of Obstetrics and Gynecology and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology and Population Health
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMarcia L. Stefanick, Ph.D is a Professor of Medicine Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and by courtesy, Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Stefanick’s research focuses on chronic disease prevention (particularly, heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia) in both women and men. She is currently the Principal Investigator the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Extension Study, having been the PI of the Stanford Clinical Center of the landmark WHI Clinical Trials and Observational Study since 1994 and Chair of the WHI Steering and Executive Committees from 1998-2011, as well as PI of the WHI Strong and Healthy (WHISH) Trial which is testing the hypothesis that a DHHS-based physical activity intervention, being delivered to a multi-ethnic cohort of about 24,000 WHI participants across the U.S., aged 68-99 when the trial started in 2015, will reduce major cardiovascular events over 8 years, compared to an equal number of “usual activity” controls. Dr. Stefanick is also PI of the Osteoporotic Study of Men (MrOS) which is continuing to conduct clinical assessments of bone and body composition in survivors of an original cohort of nearly 6000 men aged 65 and over in 2001. As founding Director of the Stanford Women’s Health and Sex Differences in Medicine (WHSDM, “wisdom”) Center, she plays a major role in promoting research and teaching on Sex and Gender in Human Physiology and Disease, Women’s Health and Queer Health and Medicine. Dr. Stefanick also plays major leadership roles at the Stanford School of Medicine, including as co-leader of the Population Sciences Program of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford’s NCI-funded comprehensive cancer center.
Dr. Stefanick obtained her B.A. in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1974), then pursued her interest in hormone and sex difference research at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, after which she obtained her PhD in Physiology at Stanford University, focusing on reproductive physiology and neuroendocrinology, with exercise physiology as a secondary focus. Her commitment to human research led to a post-doctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, which has been her academic home for nearly 40 years. -
Tainayah Whitney Thomas
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health (Epidemiology)
BioTainayah Thomas, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health. Her research focuses on primary care improvement and diabetes prevention and management among racially and ethnically diverse populations. Dr. Thomas's research seeks to leverage delivery science research methodology to promote the integration of evidence-based research into clinical practice. Dr. Thomas is dedicated to transforming research into action by engaging community, health system, and policy stakeholders in adapting, implementing, and sustaining interventions that address health disparities and promote health equity.
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Candice N. Thompson, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - General Surgery
Masters Student in Epidemiology and Clinical Research, admitted Autumn 2023BioDr. Thompson is a board-certified, fellowship-trained general surgeon who specializes in breast surgical oncology. She is a clinical assistant professor of surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Medical Director for the Office of Cancer Health Equity.
Dr. Thompson clinical interests include treatment of women and men who have breast cancer, benign breast disease, genetic mutations, family history of breast cancer, or other breast cancer risk factors. Procedures performed by Dr. Thompson include lumpectomies (partial mastectomies) using oncoplastic techniques and hidden scar methods, skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomies, simple mastectomies with aesthetically flat closure, oncoplastic procedures, benign breast lesion excisions, axillary node dissections, and sentinel lymph node biopsies.
She completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Stanford University under the mentorship of one of the world’s foremost experts in the field. She completed her general surgery training at Georgetown University, where she was the co-administrative chief resident. She is passionate about equitable care and addressing healthcare disparities, especially in breast cancer.
Dr. Thompson works closely with medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, genetics, and other breast cancer specialists in a multidisciplinary setting to provide high quality, evidence-based, and individualized care. Dr. Thompson is a strong advocate for patient education and empowerment and strives to deliver compassionate care to patients and their families.
Her research has focused on Nipple Sparing Mastectomies, Community Engagement for Breast Cancer in the Black Community, Immune responses during breast cancer treatment, and prognostic role of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the management of breast cancer. She also has strong research interests in community engagement, health disparities, oncoplastic surgical options, and cancer biomarkers. She has delivered presentations on a wide range of topics related to breast cancer at national and regional meetings including NRG Oncology, ASBrS, ASC.
For her scholarship and research achievements, Dr. Thompson has won numerous honors and awards. She has earned the resident teaching award during her chief year at Georgetown. She was awarded the Stanford Cancer Institute Clinical Innovation Fund Grant for her work in educating the Black Community about Breast Health and Breast Cancer (2022). She was also awarded the prestigious NCI Early-Surgeon Scientist Program (ESSP) Award to support her early career as a surgeon scientist(2024). She also serves on the AAS Academic Advancement Committee, NRG Oncology Surgical Oncology Committee, NCCN Breast Screening and Diagnosis Panel, and TOUCH Black Breast Advisor for Pink Table Talk.
Dr. Thompson is a member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS), Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS), Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), and American Medical Association (AMA).
Outside of work, Dr. Thompson enjoys pilates, tennis, baking, sewing, wine tasting, and traveling. -
Dee W. West
Professor of Health Research and Policy, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly Interests- Cancer etiology (diet, familial, genetic), especially breast, prostate and colon cancer
- Cancer surveillance (Cancer registration, cancer patterns)
- Cancer outcomes (Survival, quality of life, quality of care) -
Alice S Whittemore
Professor of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) and of Biomedical Data Science, Emerita
Professor Emerita, Epidemiology and Population HealthCurrent Research and Scholarly InterestsCancers of the prostate, breast and ovary account for a major proportion of new cancer cases and cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. Our recent research focus has been on developing improved statistical methods for the design and conduct of studies involving hereditary predisposition and modifiable lifestyle characteristics in the etiologies of site-specific cancers.
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Eric Yin
Masters Student in Epidemiology and Clinical Research, admitted Autumn 2024
BioEric is a MS student in the Epidemiology and Clinical Research Program working under the supervision of Dr. Ashley Styczynski and Dr. Stephen Luby. His thesis explores how natural ventilation can be used to reduce airborne disease transmission in LMIC hospitals and the cost effectiveness of these strategies. Eric is also a Stanford CARE Team Science Fellow, helping undergraduate students develop quantitative skills for applications in Asian precision medicine research.
Prior to graduate school, Eric received his undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto with a major in neuroscience and a double minor in statistics and computer science. His previous research endeavors have involved the exploration of novel MRI biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease, the localization of hippocampal engram neurons, and the cognitive impacts of surgically induced menopause. -
Astrid Nicole Zamora
Postdoctoral Scholar, Epidemiology
BioDr. Astrid N. Zamora is a public health researcher and epidemiologist committed to advancing health equity. Her research combines birth cohort data, formative methods (e.g., interviews, ethnography), and behavioral intervention data to investigate health disparities and develop targeted interventions, focusing on Latino/a populations in the U.S. and Mexico. Dr. Zamora’s work explores how environmental exposures, diet, physical activity, and sleep interact to shape psychosocial and cardiometabolic health across the life course. Dr. Zamora is also actively engaged in public health pedagogy, researching equity-focused teaching practices and strategies for fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments for public health students.
After earning her MPH at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Dr. Zamora completed her PhD at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her NIH/NIEHS-funded dissertation examined the impact of endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure on sleep health and metabolic risk among adolescents and peri-menopausal women in Mexico City, focusing on populations at high risk for health inequities. This work contributed to the growing understanding of how environmental factors affect sleep quality and their implications for long-term metabolic health.
Currently, as a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Zamora is expanding her expertise in randomized controlled trial (RCT) study design and citizen science methodologies. Her work aims to integrate epidemiologic training with community-based research, aligning her scientific agenda with the priorities of the communities she serves. Dr. Zamora’s research seeks to illuminate how diet, sleep, the built environment, and physical activity intersect to influence health outcomes, with the ultimate goal of reducing health disparities and supporting marginalized communities through actionable and equitable public health solutions.
