Graduate Program: MSCE (Clinical Epidemiology), Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (2018)
Current Title: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Attending Neonatologist at Penn/CHOP
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sarah Coggins, BA, MD, is a 2023 graduate of the MSCE program, administered by the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) at the University of Pennsylvania. Before entering the MSCE program, Dr. Coggins earned a BA in Molecular & Cellular Biology in 2011, followed by an MD in 2015, both from Vanderbilt University. As an MSCE student, she was co-advised by Karen Puopolo, MD PhD, CHOP neonatologist and Section Chief for Newborn Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital, and Jason D. Christie, MD, MSCE, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in DBEI.
Today, Dr. Coggins is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Attending Neonatologist at Penn/CHOP
We reached out to Dr. Coggins to learn more about her current work and to invite her to reflect on her time as an MSCE student in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) at Penn.
Why did you chose the MSCE Program?
I knew I wanted to pursue a research-oriented career in academic neonatology, and chose the MSCE for its strong education in clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, and the opportunity to tailor this education to my specific learning goals.
What faculty member, mentor, or course was most influential for you and why?
I still constantly call upon the lessons (and code!) learned in Data Management and Visualization, taught by Michael Harhay.
What is a typical day like in your current role as Director of Medical Affairs Biostatistics?
I spend 25% of my time doing clinical work as a neonatologist staffing the Intensive Care Nursery and Well Baby Nursery at Pennsylvania Hospital. The bulk of my time is spent focusing on research – including developing and overseeing research studies, analyzing data, writing manuscripts, and meeting with collaborators. No two days are ever the same!
What do you value most about your current role?
I have the opportunity to conduct clinical research in neonatal infectious diseases, which has been my passion for over 10 years now. Not only do I find this work intellectually rewarding, our findings have the potential to directly improve the care of my patients and for neonates across the country. Additionally, Pennsylvania Hospital is fantastically supportive of clinical research and I could not ask for a better environment to be a clinician investigator.
What is on the horizon for you in terms of your career goals or research path?
I was recently awarded an NIH/NICHD K23 career development award to support my research in transplacental antibiotic pharmacokinetics! With this award I aim to establish myself as an expert in neonatal antimicrobial pharmacology.