Emma K Benn, DrPH
- ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY WELL-BEING AND DEVELOPMENT
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Population Health Science and Policy
Dr. Emma K. T. Benn (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Center for Biostatistics and Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS). She is also the Founding Director of the Center for Scientific Diversity and Associate Dean of Faculty Well-being and Development at ISMMS. Dr. Benn has collaborated on a variety of interdisciplinary research projects over the course of her career and is particularly interested in health disparities research. She developed a graduate-level course at ISMMS, Race and Causal Inference, designed to increase the methodologic rigor by which students and trainees investigate health disparities with a goal of finding effective causal targets for intervention. Dr. Benn, through her leadership of the Center for Scientific Diversity, is committed to increasing diversity, inclusion, and equitable advancement in the biomedical research workforce, more broadly, as well as reducing racial/ethnic disparities in faculty promotion in academic medicine. The work of the Center for Scientific Diversity was the major driving force for the NIH FIRST Cohort Cluster Hiring Initiative at Mount Sinai, for which Dr. Benn is the contact PI. This transformative initiative aims to promote and sustain an academic culture of inclusive excellence, while also ensuring the equitable recruitment, hiring, and advancement of early stage investigators in the biomedical sciences committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Benn is the co-founder of the NHLBI-funded Biostatistics Epidemiology Summer Training (BEST) Diversity Program and a former co-Chair of the ENAR Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics Workshop. She has served on the American Statistical Association’s Task Force on Antiracism, LGBTQ Advocacy Committee, and Investments Committee. She also serves as a mentor for the JSM Diversity Workshop and Mentoring Program and the Math Alliance. Dr. Benn was co-PI of the NIGMS-funded Applied Statistics in Biological Systems (ASIBS) Short Course aimed at increasing the statistical competency and research capacity of early-stage researchers nationwide. She currently is PI of the NHGRI-funded Clinical Research Education in Genome Science (CREiGS) Short Course aimed at exposing doctoral students, postdocs, and clinical and research faculty to computational tools in genome science in addition to effective strategies for engaging underserved communities in genomics research.
Dr. Benn’s contributions have been celebrated by various organizations including Mathematically Gifted and Black and Graduate Women in Science. Dr. Benn holds the prestigious honor of being an American Statistical Association Fellow for her established reputation and outstanding contributions to the statistical sciences. She is also a member of the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies Inaugural Leadership cohort for her important role in shaping the future of statistics. She has also received an Outstanding Teaching Award from ISMMS for her passion for education and her commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
Follow Dr. Benn on Twitter @ EKTBenn.
Education
BA, Swarthmore College
MPH, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
DrPH, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
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2013-2015 NIH/NIMHD Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities Research Recipient -
2014 Women in Statistics Junior Researcher Travel Award -
2014 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) Diversity Mentoring Program Fellow -
The Applied Statistics in Biological Systems (ASIBS) Short Course -
2015 Beta Omicron Chapter Inductee of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Benn did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2022 and/or 2023: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.