Jazmyn Bess

Ms. Jazmyn Bess is a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemology at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. Lauren McCullough, studying ovarian and endometrial cancers in Black women. She earned a M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from University of Florida, and a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to matriculating to Emory University, Ms. Bess acquired extensive cancer epidemiological field work experience as an iCURE Scholar and postbaccalaureate fellow and in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) and the Trans-Divisional Research Program (TDRP) within the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute. Here she worked on a variety of projects including the Connect for Cancer Prospective Cohort Study under the mentorship of Drs. Nicolas Wentsezen and Mia Gaudet, Cardiofacioctaneous cancer risk systematic review and pooled analysis under the mentorship of Dr. Doug Stewart, SEER Stat analysis to understand all-cause mortality disparities between Asian American and Pacific Islander populations under the mentorship of Drs. Jacqueline Vo and Jaimie Shing, and the HPV35 Project analyzing HPV35 variation in HPV 35-associated cervical cancer cases and benign infections among Malawian women and other countries under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Mirabello, among other subprojects.

Ms. Bess is passionate about disparities in gynecological cancers and benign gyecologic conditions - including uterine fibroids, PCOS, and endometriosis- as well as social determinants of health and etiologic heterogeneity. She aims to inform prevention, treatment, and community-engagement strategies that advance the health of Black women.