Md Sabbir Ahmed

About me

As an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan, I work on childhood immunization surveillance. Since 2024, I have been measuring vaccine coverage, reporting to the Public Health Agency of Canada and turning data into briefing notes that support decisions.

I have more than six years of experience managing and analyzing large-scale administrative health data. I hold an MSc in Community and Population Health Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and I have published 38 peer-reviewed articles, 25 of them as lead author.

Education

From Bangladesh to Canada: my journey from nutrition science to epidemiology.

2023

MSc, Community and Population Health Science

Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

2021

MS, Nutrition and Food Science

Major in Community Health and Hygiene, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

2019

BSc (Hons), Nutrition and Food Science

Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

Work

Click a tile to see my role there.

Epidemiologist

Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan

What I do

  • Analyze administrative health data from Panorama and other databases, such as the Discharge Abstract Database, for surveillance and reporting in SAS.
  • Write briefing notes and reports on immunization coverage for vaccine-preventable diseases, and submit data to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
  • Handle data requests from the Minister's office, media and external partners.
  • Oversee external research projects: data extraction, data linkage, data sharing agreements and guidance for data analysts.
  • Support the Communicable Disease team with immunization surveillance during public health events and emergencies.
  • Lead and work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver the branch's workplan.

Research Officer

Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), University of Saskatchewan

What I did

  • Analyzed survey data and shared findings with researchers, policymakers and the public.
  • Wrote manuscripts, reports, research briefs and posters.
  • Analyzed Canadian Housing Survey data in Statistics Canada's Research Data Centre, including access, security and vetting requests.
  • Analyzed Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey data for a maternal health project.
  • Helped write and submit a CIHR grant application.
  • Led a working group and helped steer research decisions with a multidisciplinary team.

Projects

Building Back BetterPeople, Places, Policies and Prospects: affordable rental housingMozambique-Canada Maternal Health ProjectLong COVID Web (CIHR-funded)Mental Health and COVID-19 in Saskatchewan AdultsRemember Rebuild Saskatchewan

Skills

What I bring to a data or research project.

Programming and data management

  • SAS programming: Base SAS, macros and PROC SQL
  • R
  • Data cleaning, linkage and validation

Analytical methods

  • Regression modelling
  • Multilevel modelling
  • Spatial analysis and mapping
  • Survey data analysis

Health data I have worked with

  • Panorama immunization data
  • Discharge Abstract Database (DAD)
  • Canadian Housing Survey
  • Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
  • Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)
  • Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Communication

  • Briefing notes
  • Scientific manuscripts
  • Research posters
  • Data visualization (Power BI, ArcGIS)

Software

The tools I use in my everyday work.

SAS
SQL
R
Power BI
ArcGIS
Microsoft Office
Canva

Scholarships and awards

Total CA$40,500
  • Dean's Scholarship2021 · University of Saskatchewan · MSc program CA$36,000
  • Best research poster award2023 · Graduate Research Conference, Graduate Students' Association, University of Saskatchewan CA$500
  • Travel award2023 · College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan · Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Conference, Halifax CA$1,500
  • Travel award2022 · College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan · Canadian Conference on Global Health, Toronto CA$2,000
  • Travel award2022 · Bangladesh-Sweden Trust Fund · travel to Canada for graduate study ≈CA$500

Research grants

Total CA$4,150
  • Young Researchers Fellowship grant2021 · Share-Net Bangladesh Project: Perceptions on the effect of climate change on child marriage in Bhola district: a qualitative exploration based on the social ecological model ≈CA$2,500
  • Young Researchers Fellowship grant2019 · WaterAid Bangladesh Project: Availability and quality of WASH infrastructure in community clinics and associated factors: a cross-sectional mixed-method study in rural coastal Bangladesh ≈CA$1,000
  • National Science and Technology Fellowship2020 · Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Purpose: To support MS thesis research at Patuakhali Science and Technology University ≈CA$650

≈ Canadian-dollar equivalent of an amount paid in another currency.