Rania Mekary, PhD, MS, MSc
Professor of Epidemiology, Program Director, PEP Online, Vice Chair HEOR, PBAS department
School
School of Pharmacy
Department
School of Pharmacy
Office Location
Matricaria 4006K
Boston
Office Phone Office Phone: 617.879.5910
About
Rania Mekary is an Associate Professor in Epidemiology, PEP Online Program Director, and PBAS Vice-Chair for HEOR. She teaches many graduate courses including Quantitate Analysis, Epidemiology, Meta-Analysis, and a capstone course, where she focuses on scientific writing. Rania collaborates with researchers from Harvard, nationally, and internationally. She completed a four-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Epidemiology focusing on obesity (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health-HSPH). She was then promoted at HSPH to a research associate and spent three years working in the areas of epidemiology of nutrition, obesity, colorectal cancer, and type II diabetes. Prior to that, Rania earned a PhD in Human Ecology (LSU), a masters in Applied Statistics (LSU), a masters in Nutrition & Dietetics (American University of Beirut), and a minor in Kinesiology (LSU).
Education
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Nutrition Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
- PhD in Human Ecology (Nutritional Sciences), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA M.Sc. in Applied Statistics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
- M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Research Interests
My research interests and background revolve around the epidemiology of lifestyle variables including eating pattern, dietary variables, physical activity and their relation to chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer. Recently, I have been heavily involved in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to pharmaco- epidemiological topics related to the safety and efficacy of drugs, surgical techniques, and medical devices, esp. in the realm of neurosurgery, in collaboration with renowned neurosurgeons at the Harvard Medical School and around the nation, which culminated in over 50 publications.Featured Affiliations
2016-2017 North American Skull Base Society
2006-present Obesity Working Group; Harvard TH School of Public Health
2013-2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)
Education
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Nutrition Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
- PhD in Human Ecology (Nutritional Sciences), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA M.Sc. in Applied Statistics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
- M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Research Interests
My research interests and background revolve around the epidemiology of lifestyle variables including eating pattern, dietary variables, physical activity and their relation to chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer. Recently, I have been heavily involved in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to pharmaco- epidemiological topics related to the safety and efficacy of drugs, surgical techniques, and medical devices, esp. in the realm of neurosurgery, in collaboration with renowned neurosurgeons at the Harvard Medical School and around the nation, which culminated in over 50 publications.Publications
Awards and Honors
- 2020 Service Award for the Department of Pharmaceutical Business and Administrative Sciences
- 2020 Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Student-Faculty Research Collaboration
- 2020 Nominee for the 2020 Trustees’ Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2019 Faculty Scholarship Application Award, MCPHS University
- 2018 Nominee for the 2018 Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Student-Faculty Research Collaboration
- 2018 Nominee for the 2018 Trustees’ Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2017 Faculty Scholarship Showcase Award, MCPHS University
- 2016 Faculty Scholarship Showcase Award, MCPHS University
- 2016 The Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society Induction, MCPHS University
- 2013 Worldwide Who’s Who membership award
- 2005-2008 Harvard Fellowship Award, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
- 2002-2006 Life Course and Aging Center Enhancement Award, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2004 Gamma Sigma Delta member, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2004-2005 Clara Tucker Scholarship, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2003-2004 Graduate Assistantship Award, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2003-2004 Lillie & Alvin Harper Graduate Fellowship, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2002 Gamma Beta Phi Society
- 2001-2003 In State and Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Award, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2002 Gamma Beta Phi Society member award, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2002-2003 Neva Olsen Nolen scholarship, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 2002 & 2003 Dr. Harvye Lewis’ Graduate Travel award, School of Human Ecology, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- 1992-1998 Undergraduate and Graduate Assistantship Award, American University of Beirut (A.U.B.), Beirut, Lebanon
Memberships/Affiliations
- 2016-2017 North American Skull Base Society
- 2016-present Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society
- 2006-present Obesity Working Group; Harvard TH School of Public Health
- 2013-2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)
- 2009-present American Heart Association
- 2008. American Association for Cancer research (AACR)
- 2008. Society for Epidemiology Research
- 2004-2006. American College of Sports Medicine
- 2004-Present Gamma Sigma Delta
- 2002-present Life Course and Aging Center (www.lsuagingstudies.com), LSU
- 2001 – 2007 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
- 2002-present Gamma Beta Phi Society