Magda A Shaheen

Magda A Shaheen, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She serves as Director of the "Research Design and Biostatistics" function at CDU and Co-Director of the CDU/UCLA-CTSI Biostatistics, Study Design and Clinical Data Management Program. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Shaheen has established herself as an expert in biostatistics, epidemiology, and clinical research methodology.

Her educational background includes a BS in Zoology/Chemistry (1979), MD in Medicine/Surgery (1981), and MS in Internal Medicine (1988) from Cairo University, followed by an MPH (1995) and PhD in Epidemiology (1998) from UCLA. This unique combination of medical and statistical training enables her to bridge clinical practice with rigorous research methodology.

Dr. Shaheen's research focuses on health disparities, particularly examining racial/ethnic differences in diabetes outcomes, NAFLD prevalence, food security, and dietary patterns among underserved populations. Her work frequently addresses the intersection of social determinants of health with clinical outcomes, with special attention to African American communities. She has developed expertise in analyzing large national datasets like NHANES to uncover patterns of health disparities.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on diabetes complications, NAFLD epidemiology across racial groups, and the impact of food insecurity during the pandemic. Her methodological approach combines advanced biostatistical techniques with clinical insights, resulting in high-impact publications in journals spanning epidemiology, internal medicine, and public health.

As an educator, Dr. Shaheen has mentored numerous faculty and students at CDU, providing courses and workshops on biostatistics, epidemiology, and research methods. Her leadership in the CDU/UCLA-CTSI program demonstrates her commitment to building research capacity for investigators conducting health disparities research.

Her laboratory work and collaborative research teams focus on translational approaches to understanding metabolic disorders and their social determinants. Current projects examine the relationship between neighborhood food environments and dietary outcomes, racial disparities in NAFLD severity, and the impact of medication complexity on diabetes management in underserved populations.