Seeking More Precision in Public Health

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS
Lee Goldman, MD Endowed Chair in Medicine
Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Vice Dean for Population Health and Health Equity, UCSF School of Medicine
University of California, San Francisco

While precision medicine has made advances in individualized patient treatments, progress at the population level requires a public health approach (termed “precision population health”) focused on tailored population health and prevention strategies and driven by “big data” approaches. Inclusion of diverse populations and a focus on disparities reduction are key components within a precision population health framework. Specific recommendations from the All of Us Research Program and the Precision Public Health Summit provide examples for addressing health disparities.

Dr. Bibbins-Domingo’s work focuses on racial, ethnic and income differences in manifestations of chronic disease; the intersection of biological, behavioral and environmental factors that influence risk; and effective clinical, public health and policy interventions aimed at prevention. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo was a member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force from 2010-2017 and led the Task Force as the vice-chair and chair from 2014-2017. She is an inducted member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine.