Department of Research & Evaluation News

Maheen Humayun, PhD, MPH, is an infectious disease epidemiologist and postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Research & Evaluation. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Humayun worked as an HIV Cluster Detection and Response Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In that role, she analyzed national HIV surveillance data to detect rapid HIV transmission across sociodemographic groups and developed data collection tools for health departments. Her doctoral research was focused on tuberculosis epidemics globally in both low- and high-burden countries including the United States, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan.

What inspired you to pursue research?

In a highly polarized world, data or evidence is what helps us reach a logical conclusion allowing us to objectively assess our feelings around complex issues. Research provides me with that anchor. Public health research is particularly meaningful to me given its applied nature and high translational value for human life as it aims to reduce disparities, prolong life, and reduce suffering.

Why did you come to the Department of Research & Evaluation to pursue your postdoctoral training?

Research & Evaluation has access to an impressively large patient dataset that is available to researchers almost in real time. In epidemiology, where timing can mean the difference between detecting a trend early or missing it entirely, access to such data allows for dynamic surveillance, rapid hypothesis testing, and actionable solutions.

What research are you currently working on that you are most excited about?

I am working on studies focused on assessing the safety and effectiveness of various vaccines including those against respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, and herpes zoster among older and immunocompromised adults.

I am excited to be a part of a team that has made substantial scientific contributions in the field of vaccines. It is particularly rewarding to work on projects that can potentially inform vaccine policy and bridge the trust gap between communities and health care systems.

What is your ultimate dream for your career?

After completing my doctoral training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I transitioned to working at the CDC.  I moved from an academic setting to a government agency and now to Kaiser Permanente Southern California, where I will work with researchers both inside and outside of Kaiser Permanente.  I am excited to explore diverse career paths and find what is most meaningful to me. Generally speaking, I would like to be in an applied setting where I will be able to use real-world data to answer pressing public health questions.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

After work, I like to unwind with a good walk and then plug back into the world by catching up on the day’s top news stories. I also spend a lot of time video calling my sisters. I like being close to water and being outdoors.

Photo: Dr. Humayun kayaking on Huron River in Ann Arbor, Michigan.