Meet the Team

Program Director

I'm an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and a Research Associate Professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. I'm also an Associate Director of UM's Center for Global Health Equity.

My research is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on epidemiology, demography, social sciences, and clinical insights to collect robust population representative data and advance understanding of the impact of sensory loss on the lives of older adults. I direct the Michigan Sensory Health and Aging Research Collaborative (Mi-SHARC), which aims to train the next generation of scholars and promote collaboration on sensory health and aging research at the University of Michigan. My research is funded by the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the Fogarty International Center at NIH, Gates Ventures, and various philanthropic and professional organizations.

In my role as Associate Director of the Center for Global Health Equity  I oversee the center’s Data Collaborative, which aims to promote equitable access to data, responsible data science, and reciprocal global health collaborations. I also co-direct the Jerome Jacobson Global Program at the Kellogg Eye Center.

I am a founder of the NIH-funded SENSE Network, an international network supporting research examining the role of sensory functioning on health and aging. I am also an invited member of the Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health, the Vision Loss Experts Group (a technical advisory panel to the WHO and the Global Burden of Disease project), and the editorial board of Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 

Project Manager

Mary Casey is the Project Manager for the Michigan Sensory Health and Aging Research Collaborative (Mi-SHARC), and brings over a decade of experience in project management across healthcare, academia, and local government. Prior to Mi-SHARC, Mary served as a Project Manager with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2), where she led statewide initiatives including the Michigan Cardiac Rehab Network. 

Research Area Specialist Associate

Rachel is a public health researcher, whose focus is on investigating vision impairment and contextual factors.  She graduated with a Master's in Public Health (implementation science) and has previous experience in drug development research.  In her free time she volunteers with several different cardiac focused organizations. 

Research Area Specialist Lead

Niranjani is an ophthalmologist and a public health researcher, whose main focus is on addressing systemic factors affecting global eye health. At present, she is working on a project titled "Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya", which is a part of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Her primary role is to harmonize this study with other HRS studies. During her free time, Niranjani loves to travel and explore new places and local cuisines. 

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Shu is a gerontologist currently focusing on the psychosocial aspects of aging, sensory loss, and contextual factors.  Her research involves both independent and collaborative projects, employing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.  She possesses practical experience in analyzing complex, nationally representative panel datasets using advanced statistical techniques.  In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and capturing moments with her camera.