معرفی
Ruchi Bhandari serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at West Virginia University's School of Public Health, leading research on substance use disorder complications and public health surveillance systems critical to Appalachia. Her work addresses West Virginia's opioid epidemic through innovative database development and state-funded health assessments, with recent PCORI and WV DHHR grants supporting her focus on patient-centered outcomes and community health trends.
Education:
- PhD, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 2013
- MPA, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
- MA, University of Rajasthan, India
- MBA, R.A. Podar Institute of Management, University of Rajasthan, India
Research Focus: Dr. Bhandari specializes in epidemiological analysis of injection drug use-associated infections—particularly infective endocarditis—and mental health disparities in rural Appalachia. Her methodology emphasizes community-engaged surveillance, leveraging statewide datasets like the MATCH survey to identify socioeconomic drivers of health outcomes. Current projects address suicide risk factors, adolescent substance use patterns, and cardiovascular impacts of pre-pregnancy drug exposure through NIH and PCORI-funded initiatives.
Publication Trends: Her 2023-2025 publications demonstrate concentrated investigation into West Virginia's public health crises, with 70% focusing on mental health and substance use outcomes. Key patterns include geographic analysis of suicide using deprivation indices, adolescent nicotine exposure impacts on academic performance, and sex-specific post-COVID neurological complications—primarily utilizing MATCH survey data and national health databases to address Appalachian health disparities.
Scientific Recognition:
- Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (WVU Student Association of Public Health, 2023)
- Two-time Teaching Spotlight recipient (HSC Office of Research, 2020)
- First-place oral presentation award on injection drug use outcomes (WV ACP Meeting, 2019)
- Second-place presentation on Hepatitis C screening (WVCTSI Annual Meeting, 2019)
- First-place research poster on influenza vaccination barriers (WV ACP Meeting, 2018)
Research Leadership: As Principal Investigator on PCORI's $250K Engagement Award (2025-2026), she builds clinical effectiveness research capacity for substance use disorder patients. Previously secured $1.2M in WV DHHR funding for MATCH surveys tracking community health trends and directed WVCTSI pilot grants establishing West Virginia's first injection drug use-associated endocarditis database. Her co-investigator role in the statewide MATCH survey enables biennial collection of 15,000+ health metrics to allocate resources to disadvantaged communities.
Collaborative Infrastructure: Directs WVU's multidisciplinary Infusion Service research unit analyzing injection drug use patient outcomes, while co-leading the MATCH survey consortium that partners with 23 West Virginia health departments. This infrastructure supports real-time policy interventions for opioid crisis response and maternal health initiatives across Appalachia's medically underserved regions.
