MYA L. ROBERSON, MSPH, PHD
Social Epidemiologist
Health Services Researcher
Health Equity Champion
ABOUT ME
Hi I'm Mya Roberson, I am an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. In 2021, I completed my PhD in Epidemiology at UNC Gillings where I was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar and a Truman Scholar (PA 2015). My research interests are in applying epidemiologic methods to health services research to promote health equity using big data. I am especially interested equity in cancer care delivery for Black people in the US South.
I have experience working in cancer registries, claims data, national healthcare databases and EHR along with expertise in health disparities, health equity and social epidemiology theory. On this site you will find my CV, science communication engagement, and a method of contact.
EDUCATION
September 2016 - August 2021
PHD IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Dissertation Title: Evaluating Geographic Variation in Breast Cancer Surgical Outcomes Among Black Women in the US South
September 2016- May 2018
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Thesis Title: Premenopausal Gynecologic Surgery and Survival among Black and White Women with Breast Cancer
September 2012- May 2016
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH WITH HONORS, BROWN UNIVERSITY
Thesis Title:
Understanding the Role of Patient-Provider Communication in Breast CancerScreening for Black Women in Birmingham, Alabama
SELECTED PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH ARTICLES
1. Roberson ML. (2022). Let's get critical: Bringing Critical Race Theory into Cancer Research. Nature Reviews Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41568-022-00453-6
2. Roberson ML, Strassle PD, Fashehun L, Erim DO, Deune GE, Ogunleye AA. (2021). Financial Burden of Lymphedema Hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.7891
3. Roberson ML, Nichols HB, Wheeler SB, Reeder-Hayes KE, Olshan AF, Baggett CD, & Robinson WR. (2021). Validity of breast cancer surgery treatment information in a state-based cancer registry. Cancer Causes & Control 2021, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10552-021-01520-3
4. Roberson ML. & McGee-Avila JK. (2021). Justice-Involved Women and Cervical Cancer Disparities: Issues of Surveillance, Education, and Policy. Journal of Correctional Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1089/jchc.19.09.0073
5. Roberson ML, Nichols HB, Olshan AF, Troester MA, & Robinson WR (2020). Premenopausal gynecologic surgery and survival among black and white women with breast cancer. Cancer Causes and Control. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-019-01255-2
ESSAYS AND COMMENTARIES
Finding Myself in Research, New York Times
AcademyHealth Student Health Disparities Contest Essay, Wright on Health Blog
On supporting early-career Black scholars, Nature Human Behavior
SELECTED MEDIA APPEARANCES OR RESEARCH MENTIONS
AWARDS AND HONORS
2019 Aspen Ideas Scholar
2019 American Society for Preventive Oncology New Investigators Workshop Participant
2018 University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Epidemiology Department H. Michael and Barbara Arrighi Endowed Scholarship
2018 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Lineberger Cancer Center Cancer Outcomes Research Program Travel Award
2018 AcademyHealth Diversity Network Scholar
2018 AcademyHealth Health Disparities Student Essay Contest Winner
2018 Passed Master’s Comprehensive Exam with Honors
2017 American Association for Cancer Research Scholar-in-Training Travel Award
2016 University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Alumni Association Spirit of Giving Scholarship
2016 University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Miriam L. Cole Scholarship
2016 University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Class of 1958 and the Sandra Winn Green Scholarship
2015 Ruth and William Silen, M.D, 2nd place poster prize in Public Health, Epidemiology or Biostatistics Harvard Medical School
2015 American Association for Cancer Research Thomas J. Bardos Science Education Award
CONTACT ME
