Bijal Bala

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About

I am a physician, epidemiologist, and health services researcher with expertise in cancer prevention and control, primary care, and implementation science. I am dedicated to improving primary care. My research program focuses on better understanding the challenges patients face in receiving comprehensive care for all their health conditions and primary care clinical teams face in delivering high-value, coordinated care. Pursuing this research area is an effective and sustainable way to improve population health outcomes equitably. I approach my research with an implementation science lens that helps me work towards “bridging the research to practice gap.” My ultimate goal is to enhance care quality and outcomes for patients suffering from common chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression, and cancer. I am also an academic leader serving as the Dallas Regional Dean and Inaugural co-director of the UTHealth Houston Institute for Implementation Science. As Dallas Regional Dean, I am dedicated to nurturing a supportive and competitive environment for faculty, staff, and students to successfully pursue their calling in public health. As co-director of the Institute for Implementation Science, I am committed to enhancing implementation research capacity in Texas to bridge the "research to practice gap."

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Center Affiliation

Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research

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Research Interests

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular and Chronic Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Health Services/Outcomes Research
• Program Evaluation