Speaker

Saeideh Fallah-Fini, Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, California State Polytechnic University

Abstract

The growing complexity of public health challenges necessitates innovative approaches to understanding and addressing these issues. Systems science provides a robust framework for tackling such challenges. This talk will explore the application of systems science to pressing public health problems, focusing on three key areas:

1. The development of a novel system dynamics method to link individual-level body weight dynamics with population-level shifts in BMI distribution;
2. The use of Markov chain modeling and microsimulation to evaluate the health and economic impacts of obesity and its comorbidities; and
3. The application of participatory system dynamics models to address racial disparities in maternal health.

Bio

Dr. Saeideh Fallah-Fini is a professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She earned her Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, followed by a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

As a trained system dynamics modeler, Dr. Fallah-Fini specializes in the development, calibration, and validation of system dynamics models for analyzing and managing complex socio-technical systems. Her interdisciplinary work bridges engineering and public health, addressing challenges in decision-making for critical societal issues. Dr. Fallah-Fini has published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented in many conferences. In addition to her research, Dr. Fallah-Fini is a dedicated educator and mentor.

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