37: Chat with Biostatistician, Speaker, and Data Coach @RoseDataStudio with Asya Spears, MS

Interview with Asya Spears, MS

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Highlights from this episode:

1. Path to becoming a Biostatistician, Speaker, and Data Coach
2. Founding Rose Data Studio to support data learnings
3. Pivoting out of a PhD program to do a Master of Science in Biostatistics

Episode 37 of Public Health Careers

Today we have a biostatistician, speaker, and data coach for Black women in Public Health. Asya is the founder of Rose Data Studio and also currently works as a Research Associate at Pharmacy Quality Alliance.

She entered into her undergraduate at Spelman College as a biology pre-medicine major, but then finally switched over to Bachelors of Science in Mathematics after she learnt she could support clinicians in a different way as well as not wanting to learn the Kreb’s Cycle. Before she began her undergraduate she was a Health Career Opportunity Program Summer Science Intern for 6-8 weeks. She was also a Math Lab Tutor at Spelman College and was an Undergraduate Honors Research Scholars at National Institute of Mental Health.

Asya initially started her PhD in Biostatistics at UCLA before pivoting to do her Master of Science in Biostatistics as she didn’t resonate with the PhD program along with having a couple of challenges. During this time she was a Summer Associate at RAND Corporation and then the Coordinator of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity at UCLA.

After graduating she went on to be a Assistant Statistician at UCLA Center for Health Advancement before going on to complete Doctoral Coursework at Pardee RAND Graduate School. Asya has had many Teaching and Instructional Assistant positions at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She then went on to be a Assistant Policy Researcher at RAND Corporation before moving into a Senior Population Health Analyst at Capital BlueCross.

Asya is the Founder and Consultant for Rose Data Studio LLC where she is working to develop a diverse data workforce and achieve health equity through data consulting and training. She also works as a Research Associate at Pharmacy Quality Alliance.