McNair Scholar 2024 - Mumtaz A. Hassan
Mumtaz A. Hassan is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Health and Wellbeing Sciences and minoring in Leadership. Her research interest is health disparities in the Somali community. Mumtaz plans on getting a masters in Public Health Data Science.
Quote from Mumtaz A. Hassan
My dream is to work for the Department of Health or CDC as Healthcare Data Analyst so I can use data to help drive change in the healthcare field for healthier lives.
Research project
Developing interventions to promote cancer prevention and screening among the Somali community in Minnesota using electronic health record data
Abstract
Somali American patients have low rates of cancer screening, for all cancers, compared to other ethnic groups and face many barriers to preventive care. Screenings are crucial to help catch cancers at an earlier stage, potentially lowering morbidity rates. There is a gap in the research about which cancers have the highest frequency among Somali patients in Minnesota. Addressing this gap could help with prioritizing which cancers are most important to address in the community. In this research project, Community Voices of Health is working with members of the Somali community and stakeholders using a multi-pronged approach to help identify interventions and strategies that can help increase cancer screening and prevention. Using BPIC to access health record data, we will assess the frequencies of common cancers among Somali patients within the MHealth system. This information will help guide which interventions are needed to increase cancer screenings in the community. Frequencies of common cancers will be determined for Somali American patients, and compared across other ethnic groups in the MHealth Fairview system.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Rebekah J. Pratt is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Interim Vice Chair for Research at the University of Minnesota, and Co-Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Masonic Cancer Center. She completed her doctorate studies at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Pratt has always been passionate about justice and equity. Her research focuses on health disparities, particularly cancer, in the Somali community in Minnesota which involves community engaged research and building partnerships in communities.