Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi, PhD
Assistant Dean, Research Education and ProfessorMedical Education

Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi, PhD, serves as Assistant Dean, Research Education at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of the research education curriculum, supervises student research projects, and fosters innovation in research methodologies among medical students. In addition to her Assistant Dean role, she serves as a Professor in the Department of Medical Education with expertise in health services research, health disparities and health services utilization and improvement, substance use disorders (with an emphasis on alcohol and tobacco), injury and violence prevention, and mental health and wellbeing. Her work bridges medical education and population health, integrating equity-focused, real-world research approaches to strengthen clinical training and improve outcomes for underserved communities.
Bio
Career Highlights
Professor and Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Psychiatry, at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, California (CDU)
Director, Research Education, College of Medicine, CDU
Course Director of the Foundation of Research Longitudinal, College of Medicine, CDU
Adjunct professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Health Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Vice-Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB), CDU
Chair, Continuing Medical Education Advisory Committee, CDU
Education
BA, MA, and PhD in Medical Sociology: State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo
Honors & Awards:
Family Life Center Certification of Appreciation, CDU (2001)
Martin Luther King Elementary School Certificate of Appreciation, CDU (2001)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) & Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Certificate of Appreciation, CDU (2003)
Drug Abuse Research Symposium Certificate of Appreciation, CDU (2006)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program, Medical Students Appreciation Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2006-2022)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program, Faculty Appreciation Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2006)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program Special Recognition Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2007)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program Special Recognition Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2008)
Faculty of the Year Award, CDU (2008)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program Special Recognition Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2009)
Most Dedicated Faculty Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program (2010)
Certificate of Appreciation, Clinical Foundations, CDU/UCLA (2012)
Certificate of Appreciation, College Foundations, CDU/UCLA (2012)
Primary Care Research Thesis Program Special Recognition Award, CDU/UCLA Medical Education program (2012)
Recognition for 15 Years of Service, CDU (2013)
Outstanding Faculty of the Year Service Award, CDU (2014)
Boards, Advisory Committees, and Professional Memberships
Editor-in-Chief, BioSocial Health Journal (present)
Associate Editor, Journal of Injury and Violence Research (present)
Associate Editor, Health Promotion Perspectives (present)
Editor, BioMed Research International — Emergency Medicine Section (present)
Editor, BioMed Research International — Public Health Section (present)
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Injury and Violence Research (present)
Editorial Board Member, Clinical Medicine Insights: Women’s Health (present)
Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health (present)
Editorial Board Member, PLOS ONE (present)
Editorial Advisory Board Member, International Journal of Students’ Research (present)
Member, SafetyLit Science Advisory Committee (present)
Member, T32/T33 Training Grant Review Panel (“Study Session”), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP): ZGM1 TWD–A (Training and Workforce Development–A). Reviewed institutional training grant applications (T32/T33); participated in panel discussion and scoring (2023-2026)
Member, Review Panel, Public Health Institute–CDU/US (2021–2023)
Judge, Department of Surgery Annual Research Symposium, Harbor–UCLA Medical Center, 2020–2023Co-Chair, Psychiatry Training Program Evaluation Committee (2018-present)
Member, Graduate Medical Education (2018-present)
Review Panel Member, Western Group on Educational Affairs, Association of American Medical Colleges (2017–present)
Member, World Suicidology (2015-present)
Member Academic Senate Program and Curriculum Review Committee (2015-present)
Member, Academic Senate Research Committee (2011-2023)
Research Focus and Interests:
Medical education and research training
Alcohol and tobacco use; substance use disorders
Injury prevention and violence prevention
Mental health and well-being
Health disparities; health services utilization and improvement
Health disparity and health service research