Master’s student in Clinical Investigation
Sehar Virani came from Pakistan to UW–Madison to focus on impactful global health work. She works with Dr. Nabeel Zafar in the Department of Surgery to research surgical outcomes for cancer patients using large, existing data sets. Beyond that, she has helped establish and maintain data registries for surgical outcomes in Ethiopia and Pakistan to enable context-specific research in those locations.
She also studies health disparities and global oncology in low- and middle-income countries, including leading a project on access to cancer care in Pakistan.
“The [research] environment [at UW–Madison] supports both independence and collaboration, and the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program provides the formal training I need to build a career in academic surgical oncology,” Sehar said.
Colleagues in Sehar’s graduate program recognize her dedication, enthusiasm, and collaborative nature, all of which make her an asset to any research team.
Sehar takes initiative wherever she can, including in her role as Global Oncology program coordinator where she manages pilot grants, organizes the Global Oncology Symposium, and facilitates collaboration across the U.S., Pakistan, and Ethiopia.
“I approach innovation by exploring practical research questions, such as financial toxicity and multi-country collaborations,” Sehar said. “Collaboration is a big part of my role, and I work closely with teams at UW–Madison and international partners to keep projects moving forward.”