Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, MD, MPH, FACS, associate professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, was recently named inaugural Endowed Surgical Professor in Health Equity for the Ohio State University College of Medicine. This first-time endowment supports a distinguished surgeon engaging in research, education, and clinical efforts in addressing disparities in health care. It was bestowed to Dr. Obeng-Gyasi for her work in addressing inequalities in health care adversely impacting equitable care and health outcomes of marginalized groups.
Dr. Obeng-Gyasi’s research examines how socioeconomic disparities, race/ethnicity, genetic ancestry, geography, financial toxicity, stress, and insurance affect clinical outcomes and treatment in patients with breast cancer. Additionally, using ecosocial theory, the weathering hypothesis, and intersectionality, her research conceptual framework examines the influence of biological correlates of adverse social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, work-related stress, etc.), operationalized as allostatic load (AL), on oncogenesis, disease progression, treatment response/tolerability, and mortality.
Her latest research — looking at how adverse neighborhood opportunity such as transportation, education, employment housing, crime, etc. affects AL and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer — was published in high-impact publication Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Obeng-Gyasi's work helps guide state and national policy on addressing structural inequity, systemic inequality and improving resource allocation for patients with cancer from historically and intentionally excluded populations.
