Roles
Research Assistant Professor
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Biography
Dr. Elfassy is a cardiovascular epidemiologist whose work focuses on risk prediction, health disparities, and population strategies for improving cardiometabolic health. She received her MSPH from the George Washington University and began her career as a Research Associate at Pfizer, followed by a role as a Research Scientist at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. During her time in public health practice, she developed a strong interest in population-level interventions, including strategies to reduce sodium intake and improve cardiovascular health. She subsequently completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Miami, where her NIH-funded research focused on cardiovascular disease, brain health, and health disparities, particularly among Hispanic/Latino populations. Her work integrates large cohort studies, advanced analytic methods, and risk prediction science to inform equitable prevention strategies. Dr. Elfassy has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in leading journals such as Circulation, JAMA Neurology, Kidney International, Stroke, Hypertension, and the American Journal of Epidemiology. She regularly presents her research at national and international scientific meetings and has received recognition for her contributions to cardiovascular epidemiology and training. Dr. Elfassy is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and serves as an active member of the Association’s Hypertension & Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease Committee. Her work bridges research, training, and curriculum development to advance equitable cardiovascular prevention. -
Teaching Interests
Trained as an epidemiologist, Dr. Elfassy has taught the following Master’s/PhD level courses and statistical computing workshops:
EPH 728 Social Epidemiology
EPH 722 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Statistical Computing Workshop: Introduction to SAS part 1
Statistical Computing Workshop: Introduction to SAS part 2
Statistical Computing Workshop: Advanced SAS
In addition to formal coursework instruction, Dr. Elfassy serves as a research mentor to: Masters students, Medical students, PhD students, post-doctoral scholars, and early career faculty. -
Research Interests
Dr. Elfassy’s research interests are in the area of cardio-kidney-metabolic health and reducing health disparities. She is particularly interested in how social and structural factors influence health and shape disparities across populations. In her work, using large, population-based cohort studies examines the role of cardio-kidney-metabolic risk factors in the development of cardiovascular disease and adverse cognitive health outcomes. She also focuses on developing, validating, and applying risk prediction tools for cardio-kidney-metabolic and cognitive outcomes in diverse populations. Her research integrates epidemiologic methods and diverse cohort data to improve risk prediction, identify individuals at elevated risk, and inform prevention strategies that advance health equity. -
Publications
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