International Day of Women and Girls in Science
"Women can play a key role by bringing their unique and invaluable perspectives to the field, leading to new innovations."
CDR Sara Azimi-Bolourian
Chief Data Officer
Office of Data, Analytics, and Information Advantage
How long have you been in science and technology?
I have been in science since 2007, and I have been with ASPR for almost four years.
Do you have a specialty or focus area?
I am an experienced epidemiologist with a specialization in in pharmacoepidemiology. In my current role as the ASPR’s first Chief Data Officer (CDO), I lead ASPR’s Data Strategy and Data Modernization Initiative, provide strategy, governance, project management support; and orchestrate shared data services across ASPR.
What motivated you to take this career path?
Public health had always been my passion. I started my career in public health as a Public Health Service (PHS) Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
I have more than dozen years of experience as an epidemiologist, public health and data analyst as well as regulatory and compliance SME in support of the HHS across the Health Resources & Services Administration, FDA, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
What specialty training or education prepared you for this career path?
I joined the PHS and began career journey after completing a master’s in public health and a master’s in healthcare administration. As my career began to advance, I completed a master’s in business administration and a PhD in public health with concentration in epidemiology. During my tenure at FDA, I completed a certificate program in pharmacoepidemiology. After joining ASPR as the CDO, I completed another certificate program in data analytics to keep up with advancements in science.
What would you say to a woman who is considering a career in science and technology?
Science and technology are major parts of public health. It is a growing, multidisciplinary field that capitalizes on the knowledge and experience of scientists and public health professionals. Women can play a key role by bringing their unique and invaluable perspectives to the field, leading to new innovations. Keep in mind that as the world of science evolves, one must also evolve to advance. My recommendation would be to keep up with scientific and educational advancements as you progress through your career, so you can play a crucial role.
