Oancea elected Chair of the Society of Epidemiologic Research International Committee

Congratulations to S. Cristina Oancea, Ph.D., M.S., associate professor in the SMHS Department of Population Health, for her recent nomination and election as the Chair of the Society of Epidemiologic Research International Committee. Established in 1968 to foster epidemiologic research, the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) is the oldest and largest general epidemiology society in North America. As the chair of the SER International Committee, Dr. Oancea will focus on engaging and nurturing SER membership among epidemiology researchers outside of the U.S., developing initiatives for discounted SER memberships for people from low- or middle-income countries, building international scholarships and travel awards, coordinating SER visits to international settings, and organizing a symposium highlighting international researchers.

“Having access to data from other countries is essential to better understand the factors leading to the various health issues currently impacting populations,” Oancea, a native of Romania, told the SER in a recent interview. “Unfortunately, having access to international datasets and databases is not always easy, and establishing international collaborations can be challenging at times.”

Encouraging students of several backgrounds to consider epidemiology, Oancea noted that “this is a field that can benefit the health of millions.”

“Through their future research, our students can impact the health of not only current but also future generations,” she added. “Once students decide to embrace this field, I advise them to always keep in mind the three essential elements: person, place, and time. Without a deep understanding of these key aspects, and without eliminating any previous biases they may have on a certain topic of interest for their research, their work will not see the desired results. Through SER and its conferences and meetings, I offer my students the opportunity to connect with fellow epidemiology students and researchers from the U.S. and from across the world, and to initiate new collaborative projects.”