Dr. Samah Hayek is a senior lecturer in a tenure track position at the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
Throughout my extensive academic tenure and research journey, I have cultivated a diverse array of multidisciplinary skills as an epidemiologist, biostatistician, and public health researcher. Focused on leveraging observational and clinical data, my work aims to furnish clinicians and healthcare professionals with tailored treatment guidelines for cancer patients, with a special emphasis on mitigating treatment toxicity through individualized medicine for cancer survivors. Recognizing the profound impact of understanding the genotype-phenotype relationship, I endeavor to enhance the overall health and longevity of cancer survivors.
My academic journey commenced with a Bachelor's degree in Statistics and Sociology from the University of Haifa, Israel, followed by a Master's degree in Epidemiology from the University of Haifa's School of Public Health. My master's thesis, exploring second primary neoplasms among childhood cancer survivors, was subsequently published in Cancer Epidemiology. This scholarly pursuit led me to pursue a doctoral degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology at the University of Kentucky, generously funded by the Fulbright program.
Post-doctorally, I embarked on a two-year tenure as a program evaluation fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA. Subsequently, I undertook post-doctoral training at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where my research focused on unraveling the complex interplay between cancer and aging phenotypes among adult survivors of childhood cancer.
Since 2020, I have served as a senior researcher at the Clalit Research Institute, where I have assumed roles as a principal investigator and collaborated on diverse research projects. Notably, my contributions include studies on COVID-19 infection and vaccine effectiveness, with significant findings published in esteemed journals like Science. Additionally, since October 2023, I have held the position of senior lecturer at Tel-Aviv University's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine. In this capacity, I have been actively involved in conducting studies with master's level students, exploring the comprehensive spectrum of cancer care from prevention and treatment to survivorship.
My research endeavors underscore the critical importance of identifying biomarkers and intermediate health markers for early disease detection among cancer survivors, serving as a cornerstone for intervention strategies to impede disease progression. As we navigate the era of "Real-World" and "Big" data, I remain committed to advancing statistical methodologies to deepen our understanding of health outcomes. My ultimate aim is to foster a robust research foundation in cancer and provide students and future researchers with a solid infrastructure to conduct impactful research in this vital field.
