Dr. maryam koosha at Institute for humanities and cultural studies,Iran
PROFILE
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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
Maryam Koosha was born on December 9, 1979, in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, Iran. Driven by a passion for understanding societal dynamics, she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Her academic journey continued with a Master’s in Sociology from Tehran Central Branch, Islamic Azad University, where she graduated with distinction (GPA 18.22/20). Her Master’s thesis, “The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Coping Behavior of Breast Cancer Patients”, set the stage for her lifelong commitment to social health research. This formative work was conducted in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Research Center at Jihad University, illustrating her early dedication to addressing the intersection of social factors and health.
Koosha earned her Ph.D. in Social Welfare at Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, where her dissertation, “Analysis of Social Health Policies for the Elderly from the 1980s to the Present and Policy Requirements”, examined the evolution of social policies affecting elderly populations. This analysis underscored her commitment to social welfare, particularly within aging demographics, and her insights highlighted the policy gaps and future needs in elderly social health.
👩💼 Professional Endeavors
Throughout her career, Koosha has worked as a social research specialist across various institutes and research groups. She held prominent roles at the Institute for Humanities and Social Studies, Medical Informatics Group, Women’s Disease Prevention Group, and the Quality of Life Research Group. In each role, she brought her expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research, contributing valuable insights on health literacy, socioeconomic impacts on health, and social support structures.
Her tenure with these organizations spans over six years, during which she led numerous high-impact studies focusing on preventive behavior, lifestyle factors, and coping strategies among vulnerable populations, particularly breast cancer patients. Koosha’s work has not only provided data-driven recommendations for improving health policies but has also directly influenced awareness and preventive measures in women’s health.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Koosha’s research contributions have centered around social determinants of health, preventive behavior, and the role of socioeconomic factors in coping mechanisms among breast cancer patients. Her key projects include:
- Analysis of Socioeconomic Status and Coping Behaviors: A cross-sectional study comparing breast cancer patients’ lifestyles with non-patients, leading to targeted recommendations on social support structures.
- Preventive Behavior Studies: Investigating the impact of social support and satisfaction on preventive behavior, which significantly contributed to awareness-raising initiatives for early detection of breast cancer.
- Health Literacy Assessment: A co-led project assessing health literacy among Iranian women with breast cancer, emphasizing the need for improved educational resources tailored to different literacy levels.
Additionally, Koosha has been a strong advocate for ethical practices in healthcare, co-investigating the study “Ethical Aspects and Professional Guidelines in Remote Health and Clinical Education”, a timely project given the rise of telemedicine and remote health education. Her research has emphasized that patient support systems and health literacy play a critical role in coping and preventive health behaviors, establishing her as a significant voice in medical sociology.
🏆 Accolades and Recognition
Koosha’s research has garnered widespread recognition. Notable awards include:
- Best Researcher at Mo’tamed Cancer Research Institute (2018): A prestigious acknowledgment of her impactful work on breast cancer prevention and social health policies.
- Best Speaker at the 12th International Breast Cancer Congress (2017): Her presentation on “Screening of Women and Influencing Factors in Iran” underscored her research’s practical implications, earning her acclaim from the medical community.
- 1st Place National Award in 1996: Early in her career, she achieved a top position in a research competition on the “Economic-Social Activities of Women in Society and Influencing Factors”, demonstrating her long-standing commitment to gender and socioeconomic issues.
These accolades reflect not only her academic and research proficiency but also her ability to communicate complex findings to broader audiences effectively.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Koosha’s work has had a tangible impact on both academic and policy landscapes. Her studies have led to heightened awareness and enhanced policies around breast cancer prevention and elderly health. In particular, her insights into socioeconomic factors affecting health have guided policies that prioritize preventive care and health education. Her systematic review on “Breast Cancer Prevention (2005-2020)” has provided a foundation for medical professionals and policymakers to address barriers to screening and early detection, especially for underserved populations.
Her influence also extends to the educational domain; as an active member of the Iranian Sociological Association and the Iranian Association of Medical Sciences, Koosha has been involved in developing medical sociology curricula that emphasize preventive healthcare and social support.
🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions
Koosha’s research legacy is marked by her commitment to improving the social determinants of health. Moving forward, her focus remains on expanding elderly social health policies and refining cancer prevention strategies. She is actively working on publishing her findings in international journals, with recent publications in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus and International Journal of Psychiatry, where her studies on elderly social health policies are poised to contribute to global policy development.
Her future goals include collaborating with international health organizations to further her research on preventive behavior and health literacy. As she continues to build on her impressive portfolio of research, Koosha remains a pioneering figure in social health, her work poised to influence both national and global health policies for years to come.