Welcome to the Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences

We’re glad you’re interested in the scientific, educational, and community-focused work happening in the Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. Whether you’re a prospective trainee, collaborator, or supporter of public health, we invite you to learn more about how we’re working to improve population health through research and education.
Our mission is to advance high-quality epidemiologic research that informs public policy, clinical care, and community well-being. Our work spans genetics, nutrition, behavioral science, cancer epidemiology, environmental health, quantitative methods, and more. By studying how disease emerges and spreads in populations, and the complex factors that influence health, we aim to uncover insights that drive prevention, early detection, and better outcomes.
Our section is home to nationally and internationally recognized investigators who lead research on cancer epidemiology, genomics, geospatial health risks, and the behavioral and environmental contributors to disease. Our faculty are frequent contributors to national discussions on public health, from cancer disparities to environmental exposures.
We collaborate closely with the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center, and the Center for Precision Environmental Health at Baylor, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Texas School of Public Health, among others. Our research is community-engaged, with special attention to high-risk and underserved populations.
The section has seen remarkable growth, with several faculty members recently promoted and honored for excellence. Drs. Abiodun Oluyomi, Itunu Sokale, and Priya Shetty were each recognized with new appointments. Faculty have presented at international and national conferences, leading clinical guidelines and serving on review panels, and have been featured in major media outlets such as The Dallas Morning News, The Austin Chronicle, and Arizona State University News.
We are proud of our continued success in research, collaboration, and education, and of the awards and honors earned by our team, including national recognition for leadership, innovation, and teaching.
Thank you for visiting,
Aaron P. Thrift, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Chief, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences