Writing Samples

Pandemics. Opioid overdoses. Diabetes. Obesity. Depression. These are among the top public health challenges that influence the research of our premier interdisciplinary public health professionals and epidemiologists. Fueled by our evidence-based research approach on preventing, diagnosing, and treating infectious and chronic diseases and other conditions, Westat works to support our clients in finding ways to determine how best to protect and improve the health of affected populations and society at large.

The well-being of a society is inextricably linked to how well its needs are met. Meeting those needs for all Americans—our aging populations, at-risk youth, children and families, military personnel, and marginalized individuals—demands precisely executed examination of the social policies that affect them. Westat's experts deliver the critical intelligence leaders require to effectively and equitably respond to multiple complex challenges.

Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, platelets, or both. This translates to 16 million blood components transfused in patients annually. But how safe is our blood supply from emerging pathogens, and what is being done to protect it? In what ways can transfusion outcomes be maximized to enhance benefits to patients over their lifetimes?

Precision medicine is an emerging approach to disease prevention and treatment that considers the unique genes and environment of each patient. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI's) precision medicine initiative seeks to generate scientific resources that will advance precision medicine in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. To that end, the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program, known as TOPMed and launched by NHLBI in 2014, generates whole genome sequencing and other omics data and integrates these data with other available molecular, behavioral, imaging, environmental, and clinical data. As the Administrative Coordinating Center (ACC) for the TOPMed program, Westat provides critical support to NHLBI's initiative.

The lightning-fast evolution of technology has demonstrated the critical need for strong governance of information processing. Effective governance frameworks—including policies, standards, and oversight mechanisms that guide how data and developing technologies are managed and protected—serve as guardrails that ensure quality and reduce risk without slowing innovation. For this reason, Westat established and applies its leading-edge governance frameworks in every aspect of our work.

Westat's reputation for delivering consistently reliable, high-quality data is grounded in our approach to strong data governance. Our data governance policy embeds key principles and ethics for data handling throughout the data life cycle, and our Data Governance Committee ensures practitioner-informed standards, offers ongoing training, and provides company-wide oversight.

Electronic health records (EHRs) can capture quantifiable aspects of patient care, such as diagnoses, prescriptions, imaging, and lab test results, all of which are essential for advancing medical research. But additional data about therapeutic measures administered to or accessed by patients to prevent disease could provide a more complete picture of the nation's health.

Running out of treatment options for a disease is terrifying for any patient. For people infected with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV-1, a lack of treatment options often means a death sentence. But now, thanks to a clinical trial conducted by Westat, a new treatment advance is giving these patients fresh hope.