Erin Caswell

I am a driven public health professional with a PhD in Public Health Sciences from West Virginia University. My expertise lies at the intersection of social determinants, suicidality, and evidence-based policy recommendations. With years of experience as a Research Specialist at WVU Health Affairs Institute, I have demonstrated excellence in data analysis, curriculum development, and stakeholder engagement. I am skilled in using tools like R Studio and SAS to translate complex data into actionable insights and I a proven track record of managing and delivering high-quality projects.

WVU HEALTH affairs institute – Morgantown, WV                                                    2021-Present

Mountain State Trends in Community Health Survey  

Research Specialist (2021-Present)

• Led the 2023 MATCH report writing team, overseeing the creation of the findings report, which summarized key survey results and provided an executive summary and policy recommendations, ensuring alignment with clients’ (West Virginia Department of Health and Department of Human Services) objectives. 
• Developed interactive data stories for the MATCH website, creating user-friendly dashboards to translate complex health data into accessible insights. This allowed the average West Virginian to easily understand the data and its impact on their health.
• Enhanced deliverable timelines by 25%, improving on-time submission rates by managing and drafting Statements of Work (SOWs) and Deliverable Expectation Documents (DEDs), ensuring alignment with client objectives and expectations.
• Coordinated complex descriptive and inferential analyses using R Studio and SAS, to identify and mitigate community health vulnerabilities, integrating insights from national datasets to address critical regional issues.
• Developed strategic policy recommendations by overseeing a statewide public health survey, analyzing threats to community well-being, and providing actionable solutions for stakeholders.
• Enhanced response capabilities through robust data visualization and reporting systems, ensuring clarity in communicating potential risks and vulnerabilities to public and governmental entities.
• Collaborated with diverse stakeholders to implement findings into actionable antiterrorism and crisis management plans.

Injury control research center– Morgantown, WV                                  2017-2021

Medicaid Opioid Use Disorder Treatment, Outcomes & Recovery (MOTOR) Study

Research Assistant (2017-2021)

• Oversaw survey administration and data collection for over 100 participants, implementing rigorous protocols that improved attrition by 10% while adhering to strict ethical compliance, significantly contributing to the integrity of the research findings.
• Actively engaged with stakeholders to maintain strong relationships, ensuring project alignment with community health needs and priorities.
• Created training materials and communication resources for outreach to community members and clinicians across all 55 counties in West Virginia, effectively engaging local health departments and fostering collaboration on statewide health initiatives.
• Conducted rigorous risk and vulnerability assessments across West Virginia communities, identifying critical areas of concern, and proposing targeted interventions.
• Advised on crisis management strategies by integrating survey data with real-time stakeholder feedback to address vulnerabilities in public health and safety systems.
• Managed communications and training resources, strengthening collaboration between public health officials, law enforcement, and local agencies.
• Led data analysis efforts for three grant submissions, collaborating with key stakeholders, partners, and other researchers to develop compelling narratives that highlighted research findings and aligned with funding opportunities

PhD Public Health Epidemiology and Biostatistics West Virginia University School of Public Health