How can we capture complex social phenomena impacting health in research? Dr. Maria Glymour, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, has focused her research on the social factors influencing dementia and cognitive function in old age.

Salma and Maria analyze the dementia research landscape and discuss the key elements of the research process to capture complex social phenomena affecting health outcomes. From asking the right questions, to identifying appropriate methods and data, thinking about who the evidence will be useful for, and understanding the potential influences of funders, the conversation explores how research can help change policies. Maria breaks down the differences between causal inference, descriptive research, and associational research, using examples from her own work. She illustrates how these methodological distinctions depend on the questions that want to be answered and the intended audience.

Given it’s doctoral application season, Maria also reflects on some of the main questions for applicants to ask themselves and emphasizes the need for applicants to highlight the specific passions that make their applications unique. As she puts it: “How much of your essay do you think anyone else could write?”

Listen to discover how you can apply these principles to your own work and make a meaningful impact in health scholarship, regardless of the step you are at in your career.

Useful resources

• Berkman, Lisa F., Ichiro Kawachi, and M. Maria Glymour (eds), Social Epidemiology, 2 edn (New York, 2014; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Mar. 2015), https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780195377903.001.0001.


• Glymour, M. What to look for in an epidemiology PhD program: 1. top priorities. Published October 12, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-epidemiology-phd-program-1-top-priorities-maria-glymour/?trackingId=WDv%2BbYDyTDq3ln%2BF%2FJF32Q%3D%3D


• Glymour, M. What to look for in an epidemiology PhD program: 2. Epi in a Medical School or a School of Public Health? Published October 20, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-epidemiology-phd-program-2-epi-medical-school-maria-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D


• Glymour, M. What to look for in a PhD program: 3. Will an interdisciplinary program make you an intellectual leader or an isolated dilettante? Published November 11, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-phd-program-3-pros-cons-interdisciplinary-programs-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D


• Glymour, M. Epidemiology and why I love it: some advice for people considering graduate school. Published August 5, 2018. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/epidemiology-why-i-love-some-advice-people-graduate-school-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D


• Glymour, M. Public Health Graduate Programs: What To Look For. Published October 9, 2023. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/public-health-graduate-programs-what-look-maria-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D

Host: Dr. Salma Abdalla

Editors: Catalina Melendez Contreras and Zachary Linhares

Marketing: Kinkini Bhaduri

Music: Eden Avery / Melting Glass from Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2fqOXWpHab/

The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode do not necessarily reflect those of their institution, the funders, or the podcast team.