Wondwosen K. Yimer

Wondwosen K. Yimer

Associate Professor

Department:
SPH-Dept of Data Science

Email:
wyimer@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 815-8129

Education

Hasselt University, Belgium, PhD, Statistics2014
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, MS, Statisitcs2004
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, BS, Statistics1998

Current Positions

Associate Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Data Science07/2023 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Population Health, Department of Data Science05/2017 - 06/2023
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health08/2015 - 04/2017
Associate Professor, Jimma University, Ethiopia, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics09/2014 - 08/2015
Assistant Professor, Jimma University, Ethiopia, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics04/2011 - 09/2014
Lecturer, Jimma University, Ethiopia, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics10/2005 - 04/2011

Sponsored Program Funding

Extramural, 24-hour Activity Cycles to Optimize Cognitive Resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study, NIH/NIA09/2020 - Present
Extramural, Arterial Stiffness and Brain Health in African Americans, NIH/NIA12/2019 - Present
Extramural, Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Supraventricular Ectopy in the Jackson Heart Study, NIH/NHLBI11/2018 - Present
Extramural, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, NIH/ NIGMS06/2018 - Present
Extramural, Jackson Heart Study Coordinating Center, NIH-NHLBI /NIMHHD05/2017 - Present
Intramural, Post-doctoral Fellowship in Biostatistics, National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development (NIH/ NICHD)08/2015 - 04/2017

Publications

Journal Article

Kamimura, D., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Mentz, R., Shah, A., White, W., Blaha, M., Oshunbade, A., Hamid, A., Suzuki, S., Clark, Donald 3rd., Fox, F., Correa, A., Butler, J., Hall, M. Cigarette Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and Heart Failure Subtypes: Insights from the Jackson Heart Study J Am Heart Assoc; 20242024
Ohaegbulam, G., Wallace, K., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Moustafa, ASZ., Morris, R. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves on Maternal Health and Infant Outcomes – A Retrospective Cohort Study Women 2024; 4(4), 469-4792024
Yogeswaran, V., Wiggins, K., Sitlani, C., Ilkhanoff, L., Benjamin, E., Heckbert, S., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Floyd, J. Resting Heart Rate and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Black Adults in the Jackson Heart Study JAMA Network Open; 20242024
Hamid, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Oshunbade, A., Khan, M., Kamimura, D., Kipchumba, R., Pandey, A., Clark III , D., Mentz, R., Fox, E., Berry, J., Stacey, B., Shah, A., Correa, A., Virani, S., Butler, J., Hall, M. Trajectory of C-Reactive Protein and Incident Heart Failure in Black Adults: The Jackson Heart Study Circulation: Heart Failure; 20242024
Rao, P., Keyes, M., Mi, M., Barber, J., Tahir, U., Deng, S., Clish, C., Shen, D., Farrell, L., Wilson, J., Gao, Y., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Ekunwe, L., Hall, M., Muntner, P., Guo, X., Kent D. Taylor, K., Tracy, R., Rich, S., Rotter, J., Xanthakis, V., Vasan, R., Bouchard, C., Sarzynski, M., Gerszten, R., Robbins, J. Plasma Proteomics of Exercise Blood Pressure and Incident Hypertension JAMA Cardiology. 2024;2024
Moustafa, A , Kassahun-Yimer, W., Perry, A., Solis, L., Belk, S., Rachael Morris, R., Shauna-Kay Spencer, S., Sarosh Rana, S., Wallace, K. Report from a text-based blood pressure monitoring prospective cohort trial among postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy BMC Pregnancy Childbirth2024
Abe, T., Olanipekun, T., Yan, F., Effoe, V., Udongwo, N., Oshunbade, A., Thomas , V., Onuorah, I., Terry , J., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Ghali , J., Correa , A., Onwuanyi , A., Michos , E., Benjamin, E., Echols, M. Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Improved Stroke Risk Assessment in Hypertensive Black Adults Am J Hypertens.2024
Alur, P., Harvey, K., Hart, K., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Thekkeveedu, R. Association between Weight for Length and the Severity of Respiratory Morbidity in Preterm Infants Children2024
Hamid, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Oshunbade, A., Kamimura, D., Clark III, D., Fox, E., Yuan-I, M., Muntner, P., Shimbo, D., Pandey, A., Shan, A., Mentz, R., Jones, D., Bertoni, A., Hall, J., Correa, A., Butler, J., Hall, M. Impact of Diabetes and Hypertension on Left Ventricular Structure and Function: The Jackson Heart Study. Journal of American Heart Association.2023
Morris, R., Moustafa, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Novotny, S., Billsby, B., Abbas, A., Wallace, K Covid-19 not hypertension or diabetes increases the risk of preeclampsia among a high-risk population International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health2022
Kamimura, D., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Shah, A., Mentz, R., Oshunbade, A., Hamid, A., Suzuki, T., Clark III, D., Waller, J., Fox, E., Correa, A., Butler, J., Hall, M. Vitamin D Levels in Black Americans and the Association with Left Ventricular Remodeling and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: the Jackson Heart Study Journal of Cardiac Failure2022
Araji, S; Griffin, A; Kassahun-Yimer, W; Dixon, L; Spencer, S-K; Belk, S; Ohaegbulam, G; and Wallace K. No association between perinatal mood disorders and hypertensive pregnancies Front. Psychiatry 13:8980032022
Torres, ER., Williams PR., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Gordy, XZ. Crossword Puzzles and Knowledge Retention Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education2022
Sahaa, A., Patel, KV., Ayers, C., Ballantyne, CM., Correa, A., Christopher deFilippi, C., Hall, ME., Mentz, RJ., Seliger, SL., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Butler, J., Berry, JD., de Lemos , JA., Pandey, A. Longitudinal changes in cardiac troponin and risk of heart failure among Black adults Journal of Cardiac Failure2022
Oshunbade, A., Lirette, S., Windham, B. Gwen., Shafi, Tariq., Hamid, A., Gbadamosi, S., Tin, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Tibuakuu, M., ClarkIII, D., Kamimura, D., Lutz, E., Mentz, R., Fox, E., Butler, J., Butler., K., Vesna Garovic, V., Turner, S., Mosley Jr, T., Hall, M. Hypertensive Diseases in Pregnancy and Kidney Function Later in Life: The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) Study Mayo Clinic Proceedings2022
Patel KV, Simek S, Ayers C, Neeland IJ, deFilippi C, Seliger SL, Lonergan K, Minniefield N, Mentz RJ, Correa A, Kassahun-Yimer W, Hall ME, Rodriguez CJ, de Lemos JA, Berry JD, Pandey A. Physical Activity, Subclinical Myocardial Injury, and Risk of Heart Failure Subtypes in Black Adults JACC Heart Fail. 2021; 9(7): 484-4932021
Torres ER, Duck AA, Kassahun-Yimer W. Household Physical Activity and Risk for Future Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Gerontol Nurs. 2021; 47(6):13-182021
Oshunbade, A., Hamid, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Valle, K., Hamid, A., Kipchumba, R., Kamimura, D., Clark III, D., White, W., DeFlippis, A., Blha, M., Benjamin, E., O'Brien, E., Mentz, R., Rodriguez, C., Fox, E., Butler, J., Keith, R., Bhatnagar, A., Robertson, R., Correa, A., Hall, M. Cigarette Smoking, Incident Coronary Heart Disease, and Coronary Artery Calcification in Black Adults: The Jackson Heart Study Journal of the American Heart Association, 2021; 10:e0173202021
Torres E, Bendlin Barbara, Kassahun-Yimer W, Magnotta, Vincent, Pardiso S Transportation physical activity earlier in life and areas of the brain related to dementia later in life Journal of Transport & Health. 2020; 20:1009922020
Kassahun-Yimer W, Valle K, Oshunbade A, Hall M. Min Yuan-I, Cain-Shields L, Anugu P, Corea A Joint modelling of longitudinal lipids and time to coronary heart disease in the Jackson Heart Study BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2020; 20:2942020
Oshunbade A, Hamid A, Lirette S, Gbadamosi S, Kassahun-Yimer W, Orimoloye O, Clark III D, Kamimura D, Grado S, Lutz E, Mentz R, Fox E, Butler J, Windham, G, Butler K, Mosley Jr T, Hall M Hypertensive diseases in pregnancy, cardiac structure and function later in life: Insights from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GEN-OA) study Pregnancy Hypertension. 20202020
Clark, P., Dambrinoc, R., Himela, S., Smalleya, Z., Kassahun- Yimer, W., Washingtona, C. The impact of craniotomy for brain tumor case volume on patient safety indicators and in-hospital mortality Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery2020
Oshunbade A, Kassahun-Yimer W, Valle K, Clark III D, Kamimura D, White W, DeFilippis A, Blaha M, Benjamin E, O’Brien E, Mentz R, Fox E, O’Mara C, Javed Butler J, Correa A, Hall M Cigarette Smoking and Incident Stroke in Blacks of the Jackson Heart Study Journal of the American Heart Association, 20202020
Torres E, Tumey T, Dean III D, Kassahun-Yimer W, Lopez-Lambert E, Hitchocock M Non-pharmacological Strategies to Obtain Usable Magnetic Resonance Images in Non-sedated Infants: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2020; 106; 1035512020
Sims J, Lutz E, Wallace K, Kassahun-Yimer W, Ngwudike C, Shwayder J Depo-medroxyprogeserone acetate, weight gain and amenorrhea among obese adolesceent and adult women The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 20202020
Novotny S, Lee-Plenty N, Wallace K, Kassahun-Yimer W, Jayaram A, Bofill J, Martin J. Jr. Acute kidney injury associated with preeclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome Pregnancy Hypertension. 2020; 19: 94–992020
Aniley T, Debusho L, Nigusie Z, Kassahun-Yimer W, Yimer B A semi-parametric mixed models for longitudinally measured fasting blood sugar level of adult diabetic patients BMC Medical Research Methodology. 20192019
Kassahun-Yimer W, Albert P, Lipsky L, Nansel T, Liu A A joint model for multivariate semicontinuous data with replications Statistical Methods in Medical Research. 2019; 28: 858–8702019
Ambelu A, Birhanu Z, Tesfaye A, Berhanu N, Muhamuza C, Kassahun W, Daba T, Woldemichael K Intervention pathways towards improving the resilience of pastoralists: A study from Borana communities, southern Ethiopia Weather and Climate Extremes. 20172017
Gezahegn Y,Kassahun W, Dube L Factors Associated with Acute Malnutrition among South Sudanese Children in Tierkidi Refugee Camp: A Case- Control Study Quality in Primary Care. 2017; 25: 253-2582017
Workicho A, Kassahun W, and Alemseged F Risk factors for multidrug- resistent tuberculosis among tuberculosis patients: a case-control study Infection and Drug Resistance. 2017; 10: 91–962017
Teshome T, Kassahun W, Bati T, and Abrha HA The prevalence and factors associated for anti-tuberculosis treatment non-adherence among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in public health care facilities in South Ethiopia: a cross- sectional study BMC Public Health. 20172017
Gemechu T, Nigussie B, Wondafrash M, Valy Jan, Lemmens J, Thijs H, Kassahun W, Kolsteren P, Granitzer M Adaptation and standardization of a Western tool for assessing child development in non-Western low-income context BMC Public Health. 20162016
Negussie A, Kassahun W, Asseegid S, and Hagen kA Factors associated with incomplete childhood immunization in Arbegona district, southern Ethiopia: a case-control study BMC Public Health. 20162016
Kalema G, Molenberghs G, Kassahun W Second-order generalized estimating equations for correlated count data Computational Statistics. 20152015
Kassahun W, Neyens T, Molenberghs G, Faes C, Verbeke G A Joint Model for Hierarchical Continuous and Zero-inflated Overdis- persed Count Data Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation. 2015; 85:552-5712015
Ewnetu H, Kassahun W, Hiko D Determinants of Diarrheal Disease among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS Attending ART Clinics in Jimma Town, South-Western Ethiopia: A Case Control Study Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research. 20142014
Kassahun W, Neyens T, Molenberghs G, Faes C, and Verbeke G A Zero-Inflated Overdispersed Hierarchical Poisson Model Statistical Modelling. 2014; 14: 1-182014
Kassahun W, Neyens T, Molenberghs G, Faes C, and Verbeke G Marginalized Multilevel Hurdle and Zero-Inflated Models for Overdispersed and Correlated Count Data with Excess Zeros Statistics in Medicine. 20142014
Gebru T, Taha M, Kassahun W Risk factors of Diarrheal diseases in under-five children among health extension model and non-Model households in Sheko District Rural Community, Southwest Ethiopia: comparative cross-sectional study BMC Public Health. 20142014
Gebru T, Taha M, Kassahun W Prevalence of Diarrhea in Under-Five Children among Health Extension Model and Non-Model Households in Sheko District Rural Community, Southwest Ethiopia Science Journal of Public Health. 2013; 1: 230–2342013
Begna Z, Assegid S, Kassahun W, and Gerbaba M Determinants of inter birth interval among married women living in rural Pastoral communities of southern Ethiopa: a case control study BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2013; 13:1162013
Belachew T, Lindstrom D, Hadley C, Gebremariam A, Kassahun W, and Kolsteren P. Food insecurity and linear growth of adolescents in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia Nutrition Journal. 2013; 12:552013
Tilahun T, Coene G, Luchters S, Kassahun W, Leye E, Temmerman M, and Degomme O Family Planning Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Married Couples in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia PLoS ONE. 2013; 8: e613352013
Yewhalaw D, Getachew Y, Tushune K, W/Michael K, Kassahun W, Deuchateau L, Van Bortel W, Spybrocek N The effect of dams and seasons on malaria incidence and anopheles abundance in Ethiopia BMC Infectious Diseases. 2013; 13:1612013
Kassahun W, Neyens T, Molenberghs G, Faes C, Verbeke G Modeling Overdispersed Longitudinal Binary Data Using a Combined Beta and Normal Random Effects Model Archives of Public Health. 2012; 70:72012
Morankar S, Tegene A, Kassahun W, Sulueiman S, Alem Y, Yazachew M, Pagnoni F Validity and reliability of RDT for diagnosis of malaria among febrile children in Jimma Town, southwest Ethiopia Ethiopian medical journal. 2011; 49:131–1382011
Getachew H, Ambaw F, Abebe L, Kassahun W Psychological distress and its predictors in AIDS orphan adolescents in Addis Ababa city: A comparative survey Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011; 25:135-1422011
Yewhalaw D, Kassahun W, W/Michael K, Tushune K, Sudhakar M, Kaba D, Deuchateau L, Van Bortel W, Spybrocek N The influence of the Gilgel-gibe hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia on caregivers’ knowledge , perceptions and health seeking behavior towards childhood malaria Malaria Journal. 2010; 9:472010
Mussema Y, Deribew A, Kassahun W Does Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) prevent Clinical Malaria in Children Aged Between 6 and 59 Months under program setting? J.Community Health. 2009; 34:102–1122009
Yirga D, W/Michael K, Wondafrash M, Kassahun W, Deribe K Knowledge and Belief about Cause and Prevention of Onchocerciasis in Bebeka, South west Ethiopia Journal of Health Sciences. 2008;18:65–692008
Alemseged F, Tegegn A, Haileamlak A, Kassahun W Caregivers’ Knowledge about childhood malaria in Gilgel Gibe field research center, south west Ethiopia Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2008; 22:49–542008
Wondimu T, W/Michael K, Kassahun W, Getachew S Delay in initiating tuberculosis treatment and factors associated among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in East Wollega, Western Ethiopia Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2007; 21:148–156.2007

Abstracts

HItt, MM., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Milner, CP., Herrin, VE., Elkins, S., Bigelow, CL., Hilal, T. Incidence of chronic graft versus host disease using post-transplant cyclophosphamide in HLA-matched versus haploidentical donors Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022; 40:e19044-e190442022
Hamid, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Oshunbade, A., Khan, S., Kipchumba, R., Kamimura, D., Pandey, A., Mentz, R., Clark, D., Fox, E., Berry, J., Stacey, R., Shah, A., Correa, A.,Butler, J., and Hall, M. Association of trajectory of High Sensitivity CReactive Protein and Incident Heart failure in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study. Association of trajectory of High Sensitivity CReactive Protein and Incident Heart failure in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study Cirulaiton 2020, 142:A144502020
Hamid, A., Kassahun-Yimer, W., Oshunbade, A., Kamimura, D., Clark, D., Fox, E., Min, Yuan-I., Muntner, P., Shimbo, D., Pandey, A., Shah, A., Mentz, R., Jones, D., Bertoni, A., Hall, J., Correa, A., Butler, J., and Hall, M. Associations of Diabetes and Hypertension with Left Ventricular Mass-The Jackson Heart Study. Journal of American college of Cardiology2020
Oshunbade, A., Hamid, A., Lirette, S., Gbadamosi, S., Tibuakuu, M., Orimoloye, O., Clark D., Kamimura, D., Wondwosen Kassahun-Yimer, W., Grado, S., Lutz, E., Mentz, R., Fox, E., Butler, J., Butler, K., MosleyJr, T., and E Hall, M. Hypertensive Diseases in Pregnancy, Cardiac Structure and Function Later in Life: Insights From the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy Study. Circulation. 2019;140:A96992019

Presentations

Poster Presentation, Alur, P. (Presenter), Hart, K., Harvey, K., Hughes, T., Kassahun-Yimer, W. Does High Weight for Length Z-score Predict Severity of Lung Disease in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia? Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2021, Virtual03/2021
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Joint Model for Multivariate Semicontinuous Data with Replications, Joint Statistical Meetings, American Statistical Association, Chicago, IL08/2016
Survival, Longitudinal And Multivariate data (SLAM) Working Group, Joint Model for Multivariate Semicontinuous Data with Replication, Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University02/2016
Platform Presentations, Joint Model for Multivariate Semicontinuous Data with Replication, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, NICHD, NIH12/2015
Platform Presentations, Modeling Overdispersed Longitudinal Binary Data Using a Combined Beta and Normal Random Effects Model, Hasselt University, Belgium03/2012

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

The Academy for Excellence in Education Inductee, UMMC2023
Excellence in Research - Silver, UMMC2023
Excellence in Research - Bronze, UMMC2021

Professional Membership and Service

American Statistical Association, Member

Committee Service

Academy of Academic Excellence, UMMC, Member2023 - Present
Evaluation and Assessment Committee, Member2023 - Present
Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Data Science, Member2023 - Present
MEDICAL CENTER-INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD 1, Member2021 - 2023
Faculty Search Committee, Member2017 - Present
First-Year Qualifying Exam Committee, Biostatistics & Data Science PhD Program, Member2017 - Present
Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Publications and Presentations, Review statistical sections of selected manuscripts2017 - Present
Admission Committee, Department of Data Science, Member2017 - Present
Curriculum Committee, Department of Data Science, Member2017 - Present
Participated in the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Comission on Colleges (SACSCOC) on-site interview in March 2022

Other Service

Reviewed mansucript, Statistics in Medicine2023 - 2023
Reviewed manuscript, BMC Medical Research Methodology07/2022 - 07/2022
Reviewed manuscript, Statistics in Medicine02/2021 - 02/2021
Statistical section reviewer for Pregnancy and Childbirth08/2019 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, member09/2010 - 08/2015
Ethical Clearance Committee member, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Ethiopia, member09/2008 - 08/2010

Teaching Experience

BDS 724, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Longitudinal and Multilevel ModelsSpring 2024
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2024
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2023
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2022
BDS 791, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Special Topics: Joint Modelling (Section 1)Spring 2021
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2021
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2020
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2019
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Analytics IFall 2018
BDS 721, Population Health, Course, Course Presenter, Analytics IFall 2017

Directed Student Learning

Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, Advised: Tran Lee2023 - Present
Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, Advised: Quest Whalen2023 - Present
Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, Advised: Md Roungu Ahmed2020 - 2022
Internship Advisor, Advised: Md. Roungu Ahmed2020 - 2020
Master's Thesis Committee Member, An exploration of the characteristics associated with the completion of Lung Cancer Screening among participants enrolled in an intensive tobacco treatment
Advised: Beth Dickson-Gavney
2020 - 2022
Master's Thesis Committee Member, Anxiety in pregnancy and hypertension disorders at delivery
Advised: Sarah Araji
2019 - 2020
Academic advisor, Advised: Quest Whalen2019 - Present
Internship Advisor, Advised: Md. Mohiuddin Adnan2018 - 2018