Brief Biography
Sarika joined the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) as a health science policy analyst in January 2021. In this role, she conducts strategic planning, research and grant portfolio analysis, evaluation, policy tracking and development, and program coordination in support of behavioral and social sciences across the NIH. Prior to joining NIH/OBSSR, Sarika served as a social scientist in the Office of Epidemiology and Research, at the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau. In this role, she served as chief evaluation officer, working to develop and implement program evaluations, and providing technical oversight and subject matter expertise, for all Bureau investments. Dr. Parasuraman also served as a social scientist with HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce, where she conducted oversight of performance measures and evaluation for a portfolio of training programs related to the primary care workforce.
Dr. Parasuraman has conducted research related to child and adolescent health, children and youth with special health care needs, health services research, and social determinants of health. Prior to joining HRSA, Dr. Parasuraman completed a postdoctoral fellowship in general academic pediatrics from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She holds a Ph.D. in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an M.P.H. in community-oriented primary care from the George Washington University, and a B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan.
