Tiasha Barik Letostak, PhD, MPH
Manager, Strategic Initiatives
March of Dimes
Q&A
Who have you admired in your path into the sciences and what qualities did you see in them that you embody in your own path?
My father–he grew up in a village in West Bengal, India, without running water or electricity, before becoming the first member of his family to obtain a PhD in Biochemistry and to immigrate to the U.S. His perseverance and work ethic as a researcher in RSV, malaria, and other viruses that impact children and adults across the world piqued my interest in science and public health. He also taught me basic science techniques in his laboratory as early as middle school, which led me to conduct molecular biology-oncology research at the Winship Cancer Institute and in a summer fellowship with the National Science Foundation during my undergraduate years.
Can you tell us about a memorable moment in your career—a time when you knew you were working in your purpose?
My struggles as a student-parent who experienced complications during pregnancy and after childbirth, without paid leave or access to affordable, licensed childcare, are what led me to pursue a career in maternal and child health. The U.S. is one of the most dangerous nations for childbirth, and one of only a few industrialized nations that does not provide paid maternity leave or health benefits by law. Women and infants of color are disproportionately impacted, exacerbating both socioeconomic and health disparities. In concert with other researchers, healthcare professionals, and policy experts, I hope that my efforts lead those in my daughter’s generation to experience fewer obstacles to success.
What is one book or film you would recommend to a young person interested in a career in sciences?
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
Career Highlights
Dr. Letostak is an Executive Board member for Bexley Minority Parent Alliance (BMPA), a nonprofit that empowers minority students to achieve their full potential by providing support and advocacy, as well as influencing policy. In collaboration with other board members, school district personnel, and community members, she is involved in efforts to improve minority teacher recruitment and retention, as well as to broaden both curricular and community celebration of BBIPOC cultural contributions. Together, BMPA guides policy and training decisions in key priority areas, including recognizing implicit bias and empowering competent and compassionate engagement to acts of racism.
Biography
Tiasha Letostak, PhD, MPH, is a public health professional who is passionate about improving outcomes for all through research, community advocacy, and policy reform in healthcare and education. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Emory University. As a graduate student, she worked in the National Center of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She went on to earn her PhD in Health Services Management and Policy at The Ohio State University (OSU), with a specialization in developmental disabilities. Concurrently, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) as a senior strategist in Clinical and Research Communications, before managing clinical and translational research programs for both NCH and OSU. She is now the manager of Strategic Initiatives at March of Dimes, where she oversees maternal and infant research efforts to improve health equity.
