Jazmyn L. Bess, M.S.

Ms. Jazmyn Bess joined DCEG as a postbaccalaureate fellow and iCURE Scholar in November 2022 with a joint appointment in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) and the Trans-Divisional Research Program (TDRP). Ms. Bess earned an M.S. in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and a B.S. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

Beginning in 2024, she is working primarily in TDRP on the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study under the mentorship of Mia M. Gaudet, Ph.D., senior scientist, and Nicolas Wentzensen, M.D., Ph.D., M.S., senior investigator.

Asian American, Pacific Islander Adults Have Distinct Overall, Leading-Cause Death Rates

Drs. Vo, Shing, and their colleagues observed significantly higher death rates among Pacific Islander individuals compared to Asian Americans, demonstrating continued need to disaggregate AAPI health data.

Ms. Bess is also involved in additional projects including examining disparities in leading causes of death between Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander populations in the U.S., under the mentorship of Jacqueline Vo, Ph.D., R.N., M.P.H, in the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, and Jaimie Z. Shing, Ph.D., M.P.H., staff scientist in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch.