What Starts Here Changes the World
Our M.S. and Ph.D. graduates are making outstanding contributions to the field through positions in academia, government, and the corporate sector.
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Alumni Spotlight
Ayo Adeyemi, Ph.D.
Current Title: Director, Global HEOR
Institution: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease Unit
Dissertation title: Relationship between body mass index and adherence to oral anti-diabetic medications in pediatric population with type 2 diabetes
Year graduated: 2014
Advisor: Dr. Karen Rascati
Dr. Adeyemi is a results-driven strategic leader in Health Economics and Outcomes Research, with over 12 years’ experience advancing patient access, value demonstration, and evidence generation across global biopharmaceutical markets.
"My graduate education at The University of Texas greatly expanded my perspective and prepared me for opportunities beyond the academic curriculum. The diverse learning experiences developed my adaptability and confidence to explore new areas, both professionally and personally. The rigorous training and high standards of the program helped build a strong skillset and a can-do attitude that have become key assets throughout my career. Graduate school also instilled a resilient work ethic and determination, enabling me to tackle challenges directly and persist through obstacles."
Abiola Oladapo, Ph.D.
Current Title: VP, Head Global Real-World Evidence (GRWE)
Institution: Sobi Inc
Dissertation title: Medication adherence, persistence, switching and dose escalation with the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors among Texas Medicaid patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
Year graduated: 2013
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Barner
Dr. Abiola Oladapo is a pharmacist and health economics and outcomes researcher (HEOR) with nearly two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. As Vice President and Head of Global Real-World Evidence (RWE) at Sobi, he leads a team of experts who develop and execute HEOR and RWE strategies to support key value propositions throughout products’ lifecycle.
“My graduate education at The University of Texas laid a strong foundation for my research and analytical skills, which have been pivotal in shaping my career in health economics and outcomes research. It fostered a mindset of limitless possibilities, empowering me to pursue ambitious goals with confidence and determination.”
Meet Our Recent Ph.D./M.S. Alumni
2023
Ph.D.
Elizabeth Ibiloye, Advisor(s): Jamie Barner
Title: Patient Experience and Factors Influencing Willingness to Utilize the Emergency Department among Individuals Living with Sickle Cell Disease
John C. Lavallee, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: A Retrospective Real-World Evidence Assessment of Association of the MIDAS Score with Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Patients with Episodic Migraines (EM) in the U.S.
Benjamin Wong, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati, Chanhyun Park
Title: Patient Characteristics in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma and Associated with Time-to-next-treatment Duration
Xiaojing Ma, Advisor(s): Kenneth Lawson
Title: Treatment Patterns and Healthcare Resource Utilization Payments in Patients with Lung Cancer in the Texas Medicaid Program
Shuang Chen, Advisor(s): Jamie Barner
Title: Medication and Healthcare Utilization of Second Generation Antipsychotic Long-Acting Injectables Among Texas Medicaid Patients with Schizophrenia
Andrew Wash, Advisor(s): Leticia Moczygemba
Title: Using Self-Determination Theory to Evaluate Well-being and Burnout in Community Pharmacists
M.S.
Gloria Odonkor, Advisor(s): Jamie Barner, Hyeun Ah Kang
Title: Examination of Age-Related Medical Complications among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Texas Medicaid
Anthony Yu, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Assessing Factors Related to Clinically Advanced Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in a Texas Integrated Delivery Network
Timothy Reynolds, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati, Chanhyun Park
Title: The Effect of a Health-System Real-Time Prescription Benefit Tool on Primary Medication Adherence: An Interrupted Time Series Study
2022
Ph.D.
Nisha Kumaraswamy, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Pharmacy provider fraud detection utilizing administrative claims data: A machine learning approach
Yi Liang, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Treatment patterns, clinical and economic outcomes in adults with immune thrombocytopenia receiving pharmaceutical second-line therapies: an administrative claims database analysis
Chinelo Orji, Advisor(s): Carolyn M. Brown
Title: Using the theory of planned behavior to assess factors that influence the intent to use human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among young adult college students
Rachel Raia, Advisor(s): Kenneth A. Lawson
Title: Adults seen in the emergency department with nonemergency respiratory diagnoses: an investigation of costs and utilization in a commercial health plan
Nidhi Shukla, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner
Title: Comparison of medication utilization patterns and healthcare resource utilization outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving novel hormonal therapies
Yogesh Vohra, Advisor(s): Carolyn M. Brown
Title: Impact of hepatic and pancreatic cancers on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients
Hanxi “Molly" Zhang, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner, Leticia R. Moczygemba
Title: Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy for older adults with stage I–III breast cancer
M.S.
Emma Gugala, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner
Title: Comparison of receipt of postpartum care and pregnancy-related risk factors among Texas Medicaid pregnant enrollees
Cindy Nguyen, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: The impact of race and ethnicity on healthcare utilization, medication utilization, and obesity-related clinical measurements in an employee-based insured population
Ryan Thaliffdeen, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Racial/Ethnic Disparities between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women with Breast Cancer
2021
Ph.D.
Qiujun (Samantha) Shao, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Healthcare utilization, expenditure, and medication use in commercially insured patients with migraine
Joshua Toliver, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Development and validation of a claims- based algorithm to predict multiple sclerosis disease severity in the Medicare and commercially insured populations
Shiyu (Serene) Zhang, Advisor(s) Karen L. Rascati
Title: Opioid use, opioid use disorder, and poisoning among children and adolescent cancer survivors
M.S.
Chinyere Okoh, Advisor(s): Leticia R. Moczygemba
Title: Community paramedics' perception of their roles in community paramedicine programs
Andrew Osterland, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Real-world outcomes of patients receiving prophylactic therapies for hepatic encephalopathy
Esther Yi, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: The association between a copay reduction program for chronic preventive medications and adherence within an integrated delivery
2020
Ph.D.
None
M.S.
Somraj Ghosh, Advisor(s): Kenneth A. Lawson
Title: Determining prescription opioid use among pregnant women in Texas Medicaid
Elizabeth Ibiloye, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner
Title: Prevalence of and factors associated with gabapentinoid use and misuse among Texas Medicaid recipients
Nina Kim, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Impact of obesity on real-world clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation on direct oral anticoagulant therapy: a retrospective cohort study
Yogesh Vohra, Advisor(s): Carolyn M. Brown
Title: The association of patient activation with the health-related quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients
Hanxi “Molly” Zhang, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner, Leticia R. Moczygemba
Title: Medication adherence among type 2 diabetes Texas Medicaid patients using basal insulin
2019
Ph.D.
Matthew Hill, Advisor(s): Kenneth A. Lawson
Title: Healthcare services utilization and expenditures in autism spectrum disorder
Hyeun Ah Kang, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner
Title: Review of economic studies of sickle cell disease and adherence to hydroxyurea and clinical and economic outcomes among Texas Medicaid enrollees with sickle cell disease
Chisom Chimah Kanu, Advisor(s): Carolyn M. Brown
Title: The relationship between health literacy, patient activation, and health outcomes in breast cancer patients
Sabina Nduaguba, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner, Kentya Ford
Title: Reducing health disparities among blacks with HIV – a focus on drug treatment and quality of care
M.S.
Linda Chen, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of universal versus selective pediatric lipid screening methods in the United States
Chinelo Orji, Advisor(s): Carolyn M. Brown
Title: White blood cell growth factor utilization among metastatic colorectal cancer patients: findings from a multi-center oncology practice network
Elmor Pineda, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Evaluation of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes newly initiated on sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and other antidiabetic medications
Nidhi Shukla, Advisor(s): Jamie C. Barner
Title: Use of medications and services for the management of sickle cell disease
2018
Ph.D.
Cat Bui, Advisor(s) Karen L. Rascati
Title: Impact of surveillance and early-stage versus late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection on patient overall survival
Sanket Shah, Advisor(s) Karen L. Rascati
Title: Patterns and predictors of opioid use in migraine patients presenting to the emergency department (ED)
M.S.
Joseph Goble, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Impact of CYP3A4/P-GP interacting medications on clinical outcomes in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients managed on rivaroxaban
Pin Xiang, Advisor(s): Karen L. Rascati
Title: Predictive modeling pilot project for readmissions in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction