Dr. Minu Ponnamma Mohan | Public Health | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Minu P. Mohan is an accomplished clinician-researcher with an interdisciplinary background in dental surgery, prosthodontics, and public health. Currently serving as a Research Scientist at the University at Buffalo, she contributes significantly to multi-site studies on cystic fibrosis, cancer psycho-oncology, and health disparities. A recipient of multiple academic honors, she earned her BDS and MDS from the University of Kerala, India, and her MPH from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Mohan has held academic positions in India and Saudi Arabia and has managed NIH-funded public health research projects in the U.S. Her expertise spans clinical research management, big data analytics, oral oncology, and machine learning applications in healthcare. She has published extensively, presented at international conferences, and is known for her contributions to understanding health outcomes among vulnerable populations. Her multidisciplinary work reflects a commitment to integrating research and clinical excellence to advance health equity.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Minu P. Mohan holds three distinguished degrees. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in 2004 from the Government Dental College, Trivandrum, under the University of Kerala, India. She went on to pursue her Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge at the same institution from 2007 to 2010. To expand her global healthcare insight, she earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Healthcare Management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2020–2021), where she also received a Graduate Assistantship, the Tri Alpha Honors, and a Provost’s Fellowship. Her education combines rigorous clinical training, academic excellence, and research-focused public health knowledge, enabling her to transition seamlessly between dentistry, public health, and clinical research. She also participated in training on health policy and implementation science, solidifying her reputation as a well-rounded healthcare professional bridging research, policy, and clinical care.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Mohan’s career spans clinical practice, academia, and research leadership across India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. She currently works as a Research Scientist at the University at Buffalo on multi-institutional projects related to cystic fibrosis and psycho-oncology. Previously, she served as a Clinical Research Coordinator III at Boston Medical Center, managing liver and inflammatory bowel disease trials. Earlier, she held academic roles including Assistant Professor at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia (2015–2019), and Mar Baselios Dental College, India (2011–2015), teaching prosthodontics and coordinating implantology and education quality initiatives. Her public health research roles include Graduate Research Assistant, Research Analyst, and Policy Intern at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, contributing to HIV care equity and organizational readiness initiatives. Her unique blend of clinical, academic, and analytical skills enables her to lead complex, interdisciplinary research while maintaining a patient-centered approach to healthcare innovation and education.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Minu Mohan has received numerous accolades across academic, clinical, and research domains. In 2021, she was nominated for Best Poster Award at the 14th Annual Dissemination & Implementation Science Conference. Her MPH studies were supported by the Provost’s Graduate Fellowship, Graduate Assistantship, and Tri Alpha Honors from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. During her dental residency, she won Best Scientific Paper for her work on silicone digital prostheses and Best Poster for clinical prosthetic rehabilitation cases at the 42nd Kerala State Dental Conference in 2009. Her research has since been spotlighted in global conferences such as ASCO, MASCC, and the National Ryan White Conference. She has authored or co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles and multiple conference abstracts. Her interdisciplinary projects involving AI, psycho-oncology, and public health disparities have positioned her as an award-winning thought leader in translational healthcare research.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Mohan’s research bridges clinical dentistry, oncology, and public health, with a strong emphasis on healthcare disparities, psycho-oncology, and data-driven health analytics. Her current projects involve the use of machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to predict suicidal ideation and cachexia in cancer patients. She also investigates opioid dependence, mental health screening, and emerging treatment toxicities using big data in hospitalized cancer cohorts. Her earlier public health research at the University of Massachusetts focused on Black Women with HIV, contributing to policy briefs and NIH-funded interventions. Additionally, she has explored prosthodontics innovations, digital prostheses, and quality-of-life outcomes post maxillofacial rehabilitation. Dr. Mohan’s work exemplifies an integrated approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research, AI applications in health, and a commitment to vulnerable populations. Her projects regularly feature in high-impact journals and global oncology conferences, contributing to evidence-based strategies in both clinical and population health domains.

✅ Conclusion