Akshaya Bhagavathula

Associate Professor

Faculty

Public Health

Akshaya Bhagavathula

Dr. Akshaya Bhagavathula is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University. He has over a decade of experience in clinical epidemiology, digital health, and population-based research, with prior work across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Europe.

His research integrates digital epidemiology, real-world evidence, and AI-enabled epidemiologic methods to address health disparities and policy-relevant public health challenges. Dr. Bhagavathula has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has contributed to the design and analysis of large-scale cohorts, registries, and population surveillance studies, with a focus on translating epidemiologic evidence into public health and clinical decision-making.

Areas of Study & Research

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Epidemiology and Public Health Decision-Making
  • Digital Epidemiology, Digital Health, and Telemedicine Evaluation
  • Health Equity, Health Disparities, and Population Vulnerabilities
  • Infodemiology and Digital Surveillance of Health Behaviors and Outcomes
  • Chronic Disease Epidemiology with Emphasis on Causal Inference and Real-World Evidence
  • Legal Epidemiology and Policy Evaluation Using Population-Level Data

Courses Taught

  • PH 750, Epidemiology I (2 Credits)
  • PH 752, Epidemiology II (2 Credits)
  • PH 474, Epidemiology (3 Credits)
  • PH 301 Research Methods in Health Services (3 Credits)
  • PH 789 Integrative Learning Experience (1 Credit)

Previous Work

  • Associate Editor, New Emirates Medical Journal, Emirates Medical Association, Dubai, UAE (2019-2021)
  • Research Associate, Emirates Cardiac Society, Dubai, UAE (2015-2022)
  • Assistant Professor, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Ethiopia (2013-2018)

Awards & Honors

  • Global Burden Disease - Lead Collaborator (2025)
  • Best Mentor Award, North Dakota State University (2025)
  • NDSU Innovation in Teaching Award (2024)
  • Stanford-Elsevier Top 2% Scientist, Clinical Medicine & Public Health (2019–2024)
  • American College of Epidemiology, Board Member (2024–2025)
  • Legal Epidemiology Fellow, Temple University Center for Public Health Law Research (2024)
  • Editorial Board Member, Annals of Epidemiology and JMIR Public Health & Surveillance (2023–present)
  • Recognized contributor and invited expert, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and BBC

Professional Associations

  • American College of Epidemiology
  • Society of Public Health Education
  • Society of Epidemiologic Research
  • International Epidemiology Society
  • Global Burden of Diseases

University Affiliations

Faculty Research Fellow (Rural and Community Health and Biosciences), North Dak… Board of Directors, American College of Epidemiology: 2024 - 2025 Legal Epidemiology Fellow - Center for Public Health Law Research | Temple Univ… Associate Editor, Annals of Epidemiology

Education

  • 2025, Fellowship of the American College of Epidemiology, New York
  • 2022-2023, Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Public Health & Technology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
  • 2022, Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • 2012, Doctor of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India
  • 2009, Bachelor of Pharmacy, The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, India

Publications

Selected Publications (of 356)
h-index = 71, i-10 index = 211
Complete list: Google Scholar | PubMed | Web of Science

  1. Bhagavathula AS. Artificial intelligence and natural language processing of patient narratives to evaluate semaglutide for weight loss. Ann Epidemiol. 2025 Sep 14;111:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.09.003.
  2. Bhagavathula AS, Krishnan D, Chu MB. Association Between Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Exposure and LDL Cholesterol in US Adults: Evidence From NHANES. Lipids. 2025 Sep 6. doi: 10.1002/lipd.70008.
  3. Bhagavathula AS. Spatiotemporal Clustering of Premature Heart Failure Mortality Across U.S. Counties, 2000-2023. JACC Heart Fail. 2025 Jul 10;13(9):102559. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2025.102559.
  4. Bhagavathula AS, Al Qady AM, Aldhaleei WA. Diagnostic accuracy and quality of artificial intelligence models in irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2025 Jun 21;31(23):106836. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i23.106836.
  5. GBD 2021 Global Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Risk Factors Collaborators; Rautalin I, Volovici V, Stark BA, Johnson CO, Kaprio J, Korja M, Krishnamurthi RV, Nair BS, Bhagavathula AS, Roth GA, Feigin VL. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. JAMA Neurol. 2025 May 23. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1522.
  6. Anza-Ramirez C, Miranda J, Armocida B, Correia JC, Spall HGC, Beran D, Aali A, Abate KH, Abate SM, Abbafati C, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Bhagavathula AS. GBD 2019 Acute and Chronic Care Collaborators. Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Nat Commun. 2025 May 7;16(1):4235. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56910-x.
  7. Bhagavathula AS, Akomaning E, Osei SP, Griechen MA. Racial and Social Vulnerability Hotspots in Premature Heart Failure Mortality Across US Counties. Circ Heart Fail. 2025 Jun;18(6):e012889. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.125.012889. PMID: 40171651.
  8. Bhagavathula AS, Abegaz TM, Khubchandani J, Choi BJ. Knowledge, access, and possession of naloxone (Narcan) among U.S. adults: A nationwide survey 2023. Am J Addict. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/ajad.70031.
  9. Ng M, Gakidou E, Lo J, Abate YH, Abbafati C, Abbas N, Abbasian M, Abd ElHafeez S, Abdel-Rahman WM, Abd-Elsalam S, Abdollahi A, Bhagavathula AS. GBD 2021 Adult BMI Collaborators. Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2025 Mar 8;405(10481):813-838. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00355-1.
  10. Feigin VL, Vos T, Nair BS, Hay SI, Abate YH, Abd Al Magied AH, Abd ElHafeez S, Abdelkader A, Abdollahifar MA, Abdullahi A, Aboagye RG, Bhagavathula AS. GBD Epilepsy Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of epilepsy, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Public Health. 2025 Mar;10(3):e203-e227. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00302-5.
  11. Abegaz TM, Ahmed M, Ali AA, Bhagavathula AS. Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life Using Social Determinants of Health: A Machine Learning Approach with the All of Us Cohort. Bioengineering (Basel). 2025 Feb 9;12(2):166. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering12020166.
  12. Weaver ND, Bertolacci GJ, Rosenblad E, Ghoba S, Cunningham M, Ikuta KS, Moberg ME, Mougin V, Han C, Wool EE, Abate YH, Bhagavathula AS. GBD 2021 Suicide Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of suicide, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Public Health. 2025 Mar;10(3):e189-e202. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00006-4.
  13. Aldhaleei WA, Wallace MB, Bi Yan, Husk A, Bhagavathula AS. Racial, Ethnic and Geographic Disparities in Digestive Diseases Mortality in the United States, 2000-2019. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Jan;23(1):59-68.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.07.035.
  14. Bhagavathula AS, Daglis T, Nishimura Y. Trends in racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in substance use disorders mortality in the United States, 2000-2019. Am J Addict. 2025 Jan;34(1):93-100. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13654.
  15. Steel N, Bauer-Staeb CM, Ford JA, Abbafati C, Abdalla MA, Abdelkader A, Abdi P, Zuñiga RA, Abiodun OO, Abolhassani H, Abu-Gharbieh E, Bhagavathula AS. GBD 2021 Europe Life Expectancy Collaborators. Changing life expectancy in European countries 1990-2021: a subanalysis of causes and risk factors from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Public Health. 2025 Feb 18:S2468-2667(25)00009-X. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00009-X.
  16. Akomaning E, Osei SP, Bhagavathula AS. Alcohol-related injuries from e-scooter and e-bike use in the US (2019-2022): a retrospective study. Inj Prev. 2025 Jan 12:ip-2024-045461. doi: 10.1136/ip-2024-045461.
  17. Arndt MB, Abate YH, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Abd ElHafeez S, Abdelmasseh M, Abd-Elsalam S, Abdulah DM, Abdulkader RS, Abidi H, Abiodun O, Aboagye RG, Bhagavathula AS. Global Nutrition Target Collaborators. Global, regional, and national progress towards the 2030 global nutrition targets and forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2025 Dec 21;404(10471):2543-2583. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01821-X.
  18. Santomauro DF, Erskine HE, Herrera AM, Miller PA, Shadid J, Hagins H, Addo IY, Adnani QE, Ahinkorah BO, Ahmed A, Alhalaiqa FN, Bhagavathula AS. Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborators. The global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Psychiatry. 2025 Feb;12(2):111-121. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00363-8.
  19. Bhagavathula A, Price JH, Khubchandani J. Trends and Disparities in Non-fatal Firearm Injuries among Working-Age Adults in the United States, 2000-2021. J Community Health. 2024 Dec 19. doi: 10.1007/s10900-024-01431-9.
  20. Osei SP, Akomaning E, Florut TF, Sodhi M, Lacy BE, Aldhaleei WA, Bhagavathula AS. Gastrointestinal Safety Assessment of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in the US: A Real-World Adverse Events Analysis from the FAERS Database. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Dec 16;14(24):2829. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14242829.