As part of one of America’s leading public research institutions on a campus including seven health sciences colleges, our experts are dismantling disparities, championing environments that allow all people to thrive and finding the best tools to prevent disease and support long, healthy lives.
Signature research
From reducing harm from tobacco and vaping to increasing access to screenings that lead to speedy identification and treatment for cancer, our researchers are national leaders in tackling today’s greatest public health challenges.
Reproductive and sexual health
Substance use and addiction
Health disparities
Cancer prevention
Health policy
Environmental and global health
Infectious diseases
“It is essential to conduct research, make evidence-based decisions and derive policies in public health using data from well-designed studies that are appropriately analyzed. Working as a biostatistician at Ohio State allows me to engage in a wide range of applications that are seeking to reduce disease burden and improve public health. Additionally, we are training the next generation of biostatistical researchers to advance methodologies for solving new statistical challenges posed by collecting complex, high-dimensional and high-volume data.”
Public health science
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Science Spotlight
Scientist: Jennifer Hefner, associate professor, Division of Health Services Management and Policy
Research summary: Hefner recently wrapped up a major National Institute of Aging-funded study focused on the importance of keeping patients engaged in their health care.
Study’s aim: “Patient engagement has been called ’the blockbuster drug of the century,’ but there was no simple way to measure this important concept. We sought to resolve that.”
Key finding: “We designed and validated a Patient Engagement Capacity Survey, 18 questions a patient can answer in less than 10 minutes.”
How could this advance your field, and patient care? “The survey can inform how we care for patients and help improve their level of engagement in their own health care, which could mean people live healthier, fuller lives.”
Researcher resources
The Office of Research supports the research needs of faculty and staff from grants and contracts management to professional development and training that elevate research practices in the College of Public Health.