On Feb. 19, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) hosted a compelling Zoom presentation by Akron Children’s Hospital Senior Statistician Sima Sharghi to explore innovative methodologies and tackle persistent challenges in the current health equity landscape, bringing together Illinois researchers, scholars, and health professionals. Led by the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) team and aligned with IHSI’s commitment to health equity, the event attracted nearly 100 participants from 32 units and 10 colleges across the Illinois campus as well as multiple external organizations. The presentation slides and recording are available.
With over 15 years of expertise in statistical and mathematical modeling, Sharghi is dedicated to improving health outcomes and addressing systemic disparities in healthcare. She applies statistical techniques to medical, public health, educational, and social equity issues. Passionate about advancing research methodologies, Sharghi aims to promote equitable healthcare outcomes, particularly for underrepresented populations.
Highlighting the need for standardized guidelines in collecting and reporting demographic data on race and ethnicity to avoid misrepresentation and bias, Sharghi delved into pivotal findings and implications detailed in a recent Journal of Clinical and Translational Sciences publication that she co-authored, Race, ethnicity, and considerations for data collection and analysis in research studies. Focusing on data collection and analysis with the aim of promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity from research conception to dissemination of findings, the authors applied the We All Count data equity framework to critique current practices and offer recommendations. The framework provides a systemic way to study data projects organized into seven stages: funding, motivation, project design, data collection and sourcing, analysis, interpretation, and communication and distribution.
Sharghi discussed the complexities of health equity research, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive methods and robust data collection techniques. She highlighted the importance of transparency and flexibility, especially when dealing with race and ethnicity data, which often includes gaps due to cultural reasons or fear. Sharghi also pointed out that race and ethnicity should be viewed as social constructs, not genetic factors, calling for a data equity framework throughout the research process. Because controlling for these variables in studies can introduce bias, she noted potential challenges and urged researchers to carefully consider their inclusion.
Providing an overview of the Child Opportunity Index (COI) and its components to help attendees understand the value it brings to research and policy, Sharghi demonstrated how she applies it as an alternative measure for neighborhood-level factors in her own research. The COI captures neighborhood resources and conditions affecting child development and well-being to indicate levels of opportunity for children within specific zip codes across the country. Sharghi encouraged attendees to explore the COI components, highlighting Education, Health and Environment, and Social and Economic COI components as indicators that can be combined to provide a comprehensive measure.
“By using COI, researchers can better understand how environmental factors contribute to health disparities,” Sharghi explained. “This index allows us to move beyond individual-level data and consider broader social contexts, leading to more targeted and effective health equity interventions.”
Babu Gounder, a dedicated Ph.D. student in the School of Social Work who attended the event, is deeply committed to addressing critical issues in environmental health and climate change. By working closely with marginalized populations and collaborating with organizations like the Carter Foundation and partners in Rantoul, Babu aims to identify and address socioenvironmental inequities.
“It's valuable to hear perspectives from researchers in healthcare settings and Dr. Sharghi’s presentation was insightful,” Gounder said. “I appreciated hearing how research and data related to health equity can be approached in different statistical and methodological ways to understand disparities in health outcomes as well as examples of how to communicate research evidence for broader audiences.”
Health and Kinesiology Prof. Minakshi (Mina) Raj has worked with IHSI for a variety of needs ranging from biostatistical support to identifying and connecting with community partners to inform community-driven research. Raj’s work focuses on using patient and clinician perspectives to improve healthcare quality.
“IHSI events support our campus community by introducing new ideas and approaches from experts in a variety of fields and help understand the scope of support that IHSI can offer Illinois researchers,” Raj explained. “Dr. Sharghi’s presentation helped me to understand various approaches that can be used to ensure the relevant inclusion of race and ethnicity information in statistical models, how to appropriately interpret study findings with or without this data, and the common limitations of models that incorporate race and ethnicity data, such as the underrepresentation of certain subgroups, which can limit the inferences that can be drawn from these findings.”
Sharghi emphasized the role of community engagement in research and shared successful case studies that demonstrated the impact of inclusive research practices. A study at Akron Children's Hospital found significant disparities in the diagnosis of Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) between white and Black patients, with white patients diagnosed around age five and Black patients around age 15, prompting further research into the causes. Additionally, research on type 2 diabetes in children highlighted the influence of social support, access to healthy food, and parental involvement on A1C levels and diabetes management outcomes.
More than just a meeting of the minds, Sharghi’s presentation was a heartfelt call to action for researchers, scholars, and health professionals committed to making a difference in the world.
“Dr. Sharghi’s presentation reinforced the importance of pushing forward when we encounter disparities in health sciences research – we can’t stop at just identifying them, we must forge ahead,” said IHSI Research Biostatistician Aman Kaur. “Moving forward, we need to keep equity at the center of our research, actively engaging with communities, creating solutions for the challenges faced by these communities, and advocating for real change that leads to more just and impactful health outcomes.”
Each semester, IHSI’s BERD team holds a webinar to discuss current and useful topics in statistics to support the Illinois research community. By creating a space for meaningful dialogue and collaboration, IHSI empowers researchers to push boundaries and drive change.
“Listening to Dr. Sharghi's talk was a powerful reminder that research and analytical methods can be susceptible to bias, potentially reinforcing disparities in health studies. I hope attendees will apply the tools discussed to design research projects that produce reliable and meaningful results, capturing the broader social context,” said IHSI Assistant Research Biostatistician Fatima Ahmed. “At BERD, we remain committed to offering programs that enhance research skills and encourage researchers to continue exploring these ideas while integrating them into their work.”
IHSI’s BERD team is available to help researchers ensure quality study design from the beginning to avoid complications in data analysis and result interpretation. Contact the BERD team for assistance with designing studies and enhancing data collection, management, and analysis for health-related research projects. Subscribe to the IHSI newsletter to receive monthly updates about future events, education programs, workshops, partnership opportunities, and more.