Welcoming Laura Fejerman, Ph.D. to PHS Department

We are excited to welcome Laura Fejerman, Ph.D.  who is joining the Department of Public Health Sciences as an Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology. Her combination of expertise in breast cancer and genetic epidemiology will significantly expand research within the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as UC Davis Genome Center, and the university’s multiple initiatives related to cancer health disparities. Her breast cancer research in diverse communities and focus on early detection aligns with Department of Public Health Science’s goals of health equity, disease prevention and health promotion.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Fejerman is joining us; her scholarly accomplishments in breast cancer and genetic epidemiology research focused on ethnic racial minorities is greatly needed for our region. She brings a valued skill set to our department and the epidemiology division; highlighting the UC Davis School of Medicine commitment to research in diverse populations,” said Rachel Whitmer, Professor and Division Chief of Epidemiology.

Dr. Fejerman joins us from the UCSF Department of Medicine where she led the San Francisco Cancer Initiative Breast Cancer Task Force until her departure and was the 2019-20 Chair of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Minorities in Cancer Research Council. She is an epidemiologist who received her Licentiate in Social Anthropology at University of Buenos Aires, MSc in Human Biology at University of Oxford, and PhD in Biological Anthropology at University of Oxford, and also received a Certificate in Clinical Research from UCSF.

Dr. Fejerman’s research projects are focused on breast cancer, genetic epidemiology, genetics of complex traits, racial/ethnic differences in disease susceptibility, and breast cancer in Latinas and African Americans.  She is currently pursuing working on understanding the association between gene expression, body mass index (obesity) and luminal B breast cancer in Latinas. Dr. Fejerman is a dedicated and innovative researcher whose impact is not limited to her own research activities.

Dr. Fejerman is an active mentor of students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty. In addition to her university service she has provided extensive service nationally to professional organizations in cancer, health equity, genetics, and science in general. She has taken on scientific and research roles with the National Cancer Institute, Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center, and the Latino Cancer Institute.

Dr. Fejerman’s outstanding academic scholarship and expertise in a research area of increasing public health significance will boost our demonstrated impact in breast cancer awareness and racial/ethnic differences in disease risk in general. It will broaden and strengthen our already world-class Comprehensive Cancer Center and Genetics research programs.