Radha Nagarajan, Ph.D., has joined the Center for Oral and Systemic Health at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute as its new director.
The Center for Oral and Systemic Health pursues research and implementation in oral and overall health, with the goal of translating actionable findings to patient care. Nagarajan will lead the scientific efforts and implement strategic initiatives for the further growth and expansion of the Center for Oral and Systemic Health.
“I am delighted to lead research and implementation at the Center for Oral and Systemic Health so as to impact outcomes and enrich patient lives in an evidence-based and data-driven manner," said Nagarajan. “I look forward to collaborating with our renowned researchers, clinicians in cross-cutting areas and the guidance of the Health System and Research Institute leadership in accomplishing these goals."
Nagarajan previously served as a tenured associate professor in the Division of Biomedical Informatics in the College of Medicine and an adjunct faculty member in the College of Dentistry at the University of Kentucky. He has also served as the chief of the Division of Biomedical Informatics and co-director of the Biomedical Informatics Core at the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at the University of Kentucky.
He led research, training and implementation broadly in health care analytics with emphasis on oral and overall health funded by National Institutes of Health, Delta Dental Plan of Michigan and other sources. Nagarajan's research experience includes developing novel predictive and prescriptive models in conjunction with big data ecosystems that can improve clinical, operational and business outcomes in an evidence-based and data driven manner. Specific areas include precision health, health service utilization, risk assessment, opioid surveillance and machine learning/artificial intelligence applications in health care.
“I am very excited that Radha has decided to join our team and I look forward to the expertise and leadership he brings to the Research Institute and Health System that will move the translation of oral and systemic health research," said Amit Acharya, Ph.D., B.D.S., Research Institute executive director. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Jeff VanWormer for his invaluable support and serving as the interim director of the Center for the past two years."