Meet the Mid-Career Members of the Society: Dr Sarah Crozier

Name:
Sarah Crozier

Position:
Associate Professor of Statistical Epidemiology
University of Southampton

SSM member since:
2017

SSM committee roles:
Honorary Treasurer

Topics of interest:
Epidemiology, Cohort Studies, Nutrition

How did your career in social medicine/population health begin?
I began working as a statistician in Southampton at the MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit (now MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre) in January 2000. Epidemiology is never a solo endeavour and I immediately enjoyed being part of a large multi-disciplinary research team. My work was largely focused on the Southampton Women’s Survey, a cohort of 12,583 non-pregnant young women in Southampton, of whom 3,158 went on to have liveborn singleton infants within the study. I always found the work fascinating and I soon embarked on a PhD. I was hugely fortunate to have Hazel Inskip (former SSM President) as my line manager and PhD supervisor. Her support, and that of many other colleagues, enabled me to establish my career and continue in an area that always provides interest and opportunities.

What is your research area and what excites you most about it?
My research interests have focussed on the influence of maternal health behaviours before and during pregnancy on offspring development, particularly using data from the Southampton Women’s Survey. The children from this study continue to be followed-up and I have been very fortunate to be so involved in this internationally-renowned cohort. During my PhD I applied my statistical skills to characterising dietary patterns within the Southampton Women’s Survey and other cohorts; it is gratifying that these patterns and methods continue to be actively used in this and other contexts. More recently, I have been involved in research to examine the impact of the food environment on diet, particularly focussed on the WRAPPED study which is an intervention study involving a collaboration with a UK discount supermarket chain frequently used by disadvantaged populations. This study aims to assess the influence of in-store product placement interventions on food purchasing and dietary patterns of women customers and their children. It is exciting to be involved in research with potential for immediate policy impact.

How has SSM influenced your career journey and what have you got out of being an SSM member?
Counting up, I think I have been to 14 SSM conferences so far. I have always enjoyed them as an opportunity to meet new people, share research and have some fond memories of the social visits too (trips to Liverpool Football Club, Cadbury World, Hadrian’s Wall and an aluminium foundry come to mind). SSM is known for its high standards of science and friendly conferences, and I have certainly benefited enormously from my interaction with other members at the conferences and elsewhere. I have recently become the SSM Treasurer and am really appreciating the opportunity to get more involved and see what it takes to make the Society work.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in social medicine/population health?
Starting a career in social medicine/population health is an exciting endeavour with many opportunities to help improve the health and wellbeing of communities. A multidisciplinary approach is always helpful and developing a wide variety of skills in research methods, critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative techniques and health policy are all extremely valuable. You will need to work with a range of professionals from diverse backgrounds perhaps including medicine, statistics, nutrition and economics; building relationships, ensuring clear communication and having a collaborative mindset will enable you to make a fulfilling and impactful contribution to a team. As your career progresses ensure you stay informed, build networks and seek mentorship – of course the SSM Mentoring Scheme is great for this!

What have you gained most from the SSM Mentoring Scheme, either as a mentor or a mentee?
The SSM mentoring scheme provides an excellent opportunity to link up with someone outside your own organisation and use them as a sounding board for your own career. I have had the opportunity to mentor several SSM members all of whom have been very capable in their fields. It is always interesting to hear about their work and to encourage them as they make decisions about their careers.

Tell us a (fun) fact about yourself that is unrelated to your career.
I am learning to play the piano… it is a very slow process but is teaching me a great deal about perseverance and tenacity!

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This blog is part of a series focusing on the Society’s mid-career and senior members. The series spotlights prominent and active members of SSM to inspire the wider community and highlight the value of membership by inviting members to reflect on their time in the Society.