Sanchita Sultana

Hi, I’m Sanchita – a Dentist turned Public Health Researcher

I am Sanchita Sultana, BDS, MPH, MBA, an epidemiologist currently serving at a county health department in the United States. My work focuses on communicable disease surveillance, tobacco-related illness prevention, and using data to guide effective public health interventions. I am particularly interested in improving outbreak response and reducing preventable disease burden through data analysis, community engagement, and practical, scalable health solutions.

My path into public health began during my training in dentistry. While treating patients with oral cancer, I saw how deeply poverty, limited awareness, and lack of access to care shaped health outcomes. That experience led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Epidemiology in Bangladesh, where I organized community-based awareness programs on tobacco use and oral cancer prevention. I later earned a second Master of Public Health from Central Michigan University, where my work focused on tobacco use, cancer screening, and communicable diseases in underserved populations.

Over time, I have worked across research, education, and practice. I have supported curriculum development, served as a teaching assistant in graduate public health courses, and contributed to research on mental health trends during COVID-19, scoping reviews, and social determinants of health. My work consistently aims to bridge evidence with real-world application.

Two of my key publications reflect this focus. In Barriers and Facilitators of Tobacco Cessation Interventions at the Population and Healthcare System Levels: A Systematic Literature Review, I examined structural and behavioral factors influencing cessation efforts across different settings. In Constructing Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to Inform Tobacco Cessation Intervention Research: A Methodological Extension Using Evidence Synthesis, I contributed to advancing methodological approaches for designing and interpreting tobacco cessation research.

I am driven by a commitment to applying epidemiological thinking to practical challenges and am always looking for opportunities to contribute to meaningful and sustainable improvements in population health.

Feel free to explore my latest work—I’m always happy to connect and exchange ideas.