Melody K. Schiaffino, PhD, MPH

Specialized in healthcare systems, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and health equity, her work focuses on improving cancer care for older adults of diverse ages—particularly those with limited English proficiency, foreign-born individuals, or residents of rural areas—through the use of advanced methodologies in data science, informatics, and implementation science.

With more than a decade of experience in translational cancer research and health disparities, Dr. Schiaffino has led and collaborated on numerous federally funded projects. She is currently the principal investigator of an NIH-funded study that promotes the identification of populations eligible for screening and the applications of AI in older adults with lung cancer. Her work has been widely published in high-impact journals and has contributed to the development of clinical guidelines, including those of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).