|
|
Professor Pathak has been involved in epidemiological and
bio-statistical research for the past 25 years, first at the
University of New Mexico and now at Michigan State University.
In both settings the principal focus of her work has
been studies of cancer etiology and prevention.
After receiving her doctorate in biostatistics, Dr.
Pathak served as a statistical consultant and co-investigator
in a variety of research studies.
In 1980, she was Co-Principal Investigator on the
“Steroid and Hormone Study,” evaluating the effect of oral
contraceptives on breast cancer risks in pre-menopausal women.
In 1983, Dr. Pathak obtained a Master of Science in
Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Her research at Harvard led to the publication of paper
on the crossover effect of parity on breast cancer risk.
Continuation of her work at Harvard resulted in a joint
grant during 1986-88 with Dr. Alice Whittemore from Stanford,
to further evaluate the effects of body size, parity and
menstrual events on breast cancer incidence in seven
countries.
Since 1983 Dr. Pathak has increasingly concentrated her
attention on the problem of breast cancer.
Dr. Pathak’s move in 1995, to Michigan State University
was undertaken in order to further develop her research on the
effects of migration on breast cancer incidence among Polish
immigrant women, and therefore proximity to the large
Polish-American populations of Detroit and Chicago was an
essential ingredient.
In October 1997, her five-year grant entitled:
“Breast Cancer in Women of Polish Ancestry,” was
funded by the National Cancer Institute.
The work on this grant is in progress.
The accrual of subjects for this study is ongoing both
in US as well as in Poland.
In
addition, Dr. Pathak has developed close ties to the MSU
cancer center, a unit that also has strong interests in breast
cancer prevention.
At MSU she holds a tenured joint appointment within the
Department of Epidemiology and the Department of Family
Practice, and thus another principal research interest is the
integration of epidemiological and preventive concepts into
the practice of family medicine.
In 1998, she was funded by the Department of Defense to
conduct a study entitled: “Improved Follow-up of Breast
Abnormalities Through Comprehensive Breast Care in Women 40 to
70 Years of Age.”
Through her position in the Department of Family
Practice, Dr. Pathak is uniquely suited to lead this effort to
improve compliance with recommendations for the secondary
prevention of breast cancer among the Family Practice
residents and attending physicians from eight Family Practice
Residencies affiliated with MSU’s Family Practice
Department.
The work on this grant is in progress.
|
