Biography
Theresa Boyer
What do you do? I am a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. My research focuses on female-specific reproductive risk factors for cardiovascular disease. I integrate data from national surveys, vital statistics, and electronic health records to understand the cardiometabolic health of reproductive-aged women and how pregnancy shapes long-term cardiovascular outcomes. My work is highly collaborative and brings together clinicians, epidemiologists, and data scientists to improve the health of women and their families.
How did the GNSS concentration shape your career? My GNSS concentration shaped how I approach epidemiologic research and population health. Courses in feminist theory taught me to interrogate power structures and to see each person as more than a data point, an essential perspective when analyzing datasets with millions of observations. GNSS training helped me recognize the complex human stories and lived experiences behind each data point as well as the historical, social, and political forces that shape health. It also strengthened my writing and my ability to communicate complex concepts clearly, an important skill that is vital when translating scientific findings for diverse audiences. Ultimately, GNSS made me a more thoughtful epidemiologist: more attuned to the structures that shape health and the upstream determinants that influence clinical decision-making and guidelines.