Sharina D Person

Sharina D Person is Professor and Marcellette G. Williams Senior Scholar at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where she serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences. With over 25 years of experience as a Ph.D. trained Biostatistician, she holds multiple academic appointments across the T.H. Chan School of Medicine and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, including roles in Biostatistics and Health Services Research, Masters in Clinical Investigation, Population Health Sciences, Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program, and Translational Science.

Her educational background includes a BS in Mathematics & Physics, an MS in Biostatistics, and a PhD in Biostatistics, all from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Prior to joining UMass Chan, she was faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she directed the NHLBI-funded CARDIA Coordinating Center and Methodology Units for the Center for Outcomes Effectiveness Research and Education and the Center for Education and Research Therapeutics.

Dr. Person's research spans biostatistics, health disparities, cardiovascular health, perinatal mental health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has extensive expertise in randomized controlled trials, coordinating center operations, statistical modeling, cluster randomization, hierarchical models, mixed-model methodology, and longitudinal studies. Her work frequently focuses on vulnerable populations, including Puerto Rican communities, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, and Black women, addressing critical health disparities through rigorous statistical approaches.

Her recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on health disparities research, particularly cardiovascular health among diverse populations in Puerto Rico, perinatal depression interventions, blood pressure management in special populations, and innovative smoking cessation approaches using machine learning. Many studies employ sophisticated statistical methodologies while addressing real-world healthcare challenges, reflecting her commitment to translating statistical expertise into meaningful health improvements.

• Marcellette G. Williams Senior Scholar at UMass Chan Medical School

As a long-term educator, Dr. Person has taught in the Population Health Research Ph.D. Program, led courses for the UMMS Health Science Preparation Program, and trained research investigators internationally in Parana, Brazil. She serves on numerous Data Safety and Observational Study Monitoring Boards and External Advisory Boards, is a longtime consultant to the Jackson Heart Study, and actively reviews grants for NHLBI, NCI, and the Center for Scientific Review. Her leadership extends to directing the Quantitative Methods Core, which provides essential statistical support to UMass Chan investigators.

Dr. Person co-developed and directs the Diversity Engagement Survey, a reliable and valid instrument for assessing, evaluating, and benchmarking institutional engagement and inclusion that has been implemented nationally and internationally. Her work in this area represents a significant contribution to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic medicine and healthcare settings.