Dr Nina Afshar
Research Fellow
Dr Nina Afshar joined the Cancer Health Services Research unit as a Research Fellow in July 2020. Before joining the CHSR group, she worked at the Department of Health and Human Services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nina completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne and Cancer Council Victoria in 2020, following completion of a Master of Science in Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne in 2015. Her doctoral research focused on trends and inequalities in cancer survival in Victoria, Australia, with an emphasis on identifying factors explaining socio-economic inequalities in colon cancer survival, applying a novel method of causal mediation analysis to linked population-based health data.
Within the Cancer Health Services Research unit, Nina is working on disparities in survival outcomes and resource utilisation in colorectal cancer patients using clinical cancer registries linked to other health-related datasets.
Nina is passionate about improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients. She is also interested in holistic medicine, particularly the effect of subconscious mind and emotions on physical body and their contribution to occurrence of chronic diseases. On weekends, Nina enjoys walking at the beach, spending time in nature and catching up with friends.