Magdalena Szaflarski

Magdalena Szaflarski is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), within the College of Arts and Sciences. Her work focuses on addressing health inequities among vulnerable populations, including minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and those with chronic illnesses. She holds a PhD from the University of Cincinnati and has conducted postdoctoral research in health policy. Her research integrates quantitative methods with transdisciplinary approaches, emphasizing global health perspectives informed by her international experiences in Europe and Asia.

Education:

• B.A., University of Michigan
• M.A., University of Michigan
• Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Policy and Outcomes Research, University of Cincinnati

Research Interests: Her studies span health disparities, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, mental health, and the social determinants of health, with recent work addressing pandemic impacts and immigrant health. She emphasizes collaborative community engagement and cross-cultural analysis.

Recent Work Trends: Her 2020–2024 publications highlight themes like cannabis use in healthcare, racial inequities in epilepsy treatment, and global pandemic responses. She bridges clinical and sociological insights, often analyzing how systemic factors like policy and culture shape health outcomes.

Professional Roles: Beyond her faculty role, she serves as a Senior Scientist in UAB’s School of Medicine and collaborates across disciplines in centers like the Center for AIDS Research. Her teaching includes global health issues and medical sociology.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary teams at UAB’s Center for Study of Community Health and Minority Health & Research Center, focusing on actionable solutions for health disparities.