Office of Population Health | UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Office of Population Health

Advancing cancer research and health equity via partnerships, data access and methodological expertise.

Office of Population Health

The Office of Population Health (OPH) helps conduct and disseminate impactful research on what causes cancer and why some people survive cancer and others do not. With an eye on promoting health equity, OPH works to educate the public about cancer prevention, screenings, treatment and survivorship. It also assists cancer researchers by:

  • Developing and strengthening strategic partnerships across UC Davis to further population-based cancer research priorities
  • Facilitating approval, access, and training/orientation to select population-based datasets for cancer research. This includes California Cancer Registry data
  • Providing the design, conduct and analysis of research studies across the cancer continuum
  • Disseminating population-based cancer research findings          
  • Facilitating population-based grant proposal development
  • Furthering research productivity and the interrelationship between cancer center programs including California Tobacco Control Program, CalCares, and WeCare.
Our Programs
  • CalCARES Program

    The California Cancer Registry (CCR) is a statewide system that has collected data on nearly all CA cancer cases since 1988.

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  • California Firefighter Cancer Research Study

    UC Davis and UCLA are studying cancer risks in firefighters to identify preventive strategies targeting occupational and lifestyle factors.

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  • Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center

    UC Davis launched the Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center in 2023 to advance tobacco cessation and reduce cancer deaths.

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  • Tobacco Prevention Program

    UC Davis Cancer Center supports the California Tobacco Prevention Program at the CA Dept. of Public Health.

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  • Well Water Quality Awareness Campaign

    The Campaign is a collaboration between the UC Davis Cancer Center, UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water.

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Our Team
  • Allyn Fernandez © UC Regents

    Allyn M. Fernandez, M.P.H.

    Chief Operations Officer and Executive Director for Office of Population Health

    Allyn Fernandez is the Chief Operations Officer for UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer  Center and Executive Director for the cancer center’s Office of Population Health. She began her career at UC Davis in 2012 overseeing operations for a suite of population health programs. Fernandez is a certified change management practitioner and professional coach. These approaches serve as a foundation for approaching her responsibilities in the areas of strategic planning, program and partnership development, and cultivating diverse long-term collaborations.

  • Shehnaz

    Shehnaz Khursheed Hussain, Ph.D., Sc.M.

    Professor and Associate Director for Population Sciences

    Shehnaz Hussain's research stems from a long-standing interest in the intersection of infectious diseases and cancer. As a molecular epidemiologist, she brings together a mindset for maximizing public health impact and scientific curiosity to cancer etiology, pathogenesis, chemoprevention, and early detection. A common thread of her ongoing research is the identification of biomarkers impacting immune response, including serum immune markers, intestinal microbiome, and immunogenic microbial components and metabolites.

  • Matt” Yang © UC Regents

    Matt Yang, M.S.

    Research Data Analyst

    Matt Yang received his master’s degree in statistics from UC Davis. He works closely with researchers, providing valuable statistical guidance on experimental design, sample size requirements, data collection instruments, and data analysis techniques. With a strong focus on maintaining alignment with primary study objectives, Yang collaborates with investigators to ensure accurate data analysis and interpretation.

    Specializing in functional data analysis and statistical learning, Yang demonstrates a keen interest in exploring innovative approaches to data analysis and deriving meaningful insights. He is dedicated to contributing to the advancement of biomedical research and driving impactful insights through the application of rigorous statistical methods.

  • Haleh Ramian, Ph.D.

    Haleh Ramian, Ph.D.

    Research Data Analyst

    Haleh earned her Ph.D. in Health Policy from Pennsylvania State University, specializing in health economics and epidemiology. She has extensive experience analyzing large healthcare datasets, including cancer registries and claims data, to generate insights into cancer disparities, treatment patterns, and patient outcomes. She has worked closely with researchers and clinicians, providing data-driven guidance on study design, statistical analysis, and epidemiological trends in oncology. Her work is dedicated to advancing cancer research through rigorous epidemiological methods, helping to inform policies and interventions that improve cancer care and reduce health inequities.