Toktam Akbari Khalaj | Public Health | Research Excellence Endeavor Award

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Mrs. Toktam Akbari Khalaj | Public Health | Research Excellence Endeavor Award

Biostatistics at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Emergency Medical Services, Iran
Summary:

Toktam Akbari Khalaj is an accomplished biostatistician specializing in the analysis of emergency medical data, particularly in pre-hospital services and traffic accident outcomes. She holds an M.Sc. in Biostatistics from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and a B.Sc. in Statistics from Azad University of Mashhad. In her current role, she contributes to data-driven decision-making at the Emergency Medical Services of Mashhad University, utilizing advanced statistical models to predict injury severity and mortality in traffic accidents. Her research has a direct impact on the effectiveness of emergency medical responses and the triage process.

Professional Profile:

👩‍🎓Education:

  • M.Sc. in Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
    Thesis: Forecasting the number of dispatches of ambulances for traffic accidents in Mashhad and assessing related factors using Time Series Regression Model.
  • B.Sc. in Statistics, Azad University of Mashhad, Iran.

🏢 Professional Experience:

Toktam Akbari Khalaj is a Biostatistician and Project Manager at the Emergency Medical Services, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. She plays a critical role in statistical analysis and project management within the department, focusing on improving pre-hospital emergency response systems and mortality prediction for traffic accident injuries. As part of her responsibilities, she oversees data extraction and analysis for traffic accident-related injuries and applies statistical models, such as GAP, R-GAP, and New Trauma Scores (NTS), to evaluate patient outcomes and optimize emergency services. Her expertise in statistical software, including SPSS, MINITAB, Expert Choice, R, and Power BI, allows her to manage complex datasets and contribute to public health improvement initiatives.

Research Interests:

  • Time series analysis and forecasting
  • Public health data mining
  • Application of biostatistics in emergency medical services
  • Trauma scoring systems and outcome prediction
  • Statistical modeling using R program
  • Analysis of mortality in traffic accidents
  • Biosciences and health analytics

Top Noted Publication:

1. Multiple-scale spatial analysis of paediatric, pedestrian road traffic injuries in a major city in North-Eastern Iran 2015–2019

  • Authors: H Shabanikiya, S Hashtarkhani, R Bergquist, N Bagheri, R VafaeiNejad, T Akbari Khalaj
  • Journal: BMC Public Health
  • Publication Year: 2020
  • Citations: 32
  • Abstract: This study conducted a multiple-scale spatial analysis of pediatric pedestrian road traffic injuries in a major city in North-Eastern Iran between 2015 and 2019. The research aimed to identify spatial patterns and high-risk areas for these injuries to inform traffic safety policies. By using spatial data analysis tools, the authors assessed the distribution and clustering of incidents across various scales to help improve urban planning and traffic safety measures for children.

2. Spatial-time analysis of cardiovascular emergency medical requests: enlightening policy and practice

  • Authors: A Azimi, N Bagheri, SM Mostafavi, MA Furst, S Hashtarkhani, FH Amin, T Akbari Khalaj
  • Journal: BMC Public Health
  • Publication Year: 2021
  • Citations: 24
  • Abstract: This paper presents a spatial-time analysis of cardiovascular emergency medical service requests, with the goal of improving emergency response policies and practices. The study utilized spatial-temporal models to identify patterns in cardiovascular emergency calls over time and across different regions. The results helped inform policy adjustments in the distribution of medical resources, enhancing the overall efficiency of emergency medical services.

3. Comparison of GAP, R-GAP, and new trauma score (NTS) systems in predicting mortality of traffic accidents that injure hospitals at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

  • Authors: T Kenarangi, F Rahmani, A Yazdani, GD Ahmadi, M Lotfi, TA Khalaj
  • Journal: Heliyon
  • Publication Year: 2024 (Upcoming)
  • Abstract: This paper evaluates the effectiveness of three trauma scoring systems (GAP, R-GAP, and NTS) in predicting mortality for traffic accident victims admitted to hospitals under Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The study used analytical cross-sectional data from the pre-hospital emergency management system to compare the accuracy of each scoring model. The results demonstrated that all three models have a high predictive power, with slight variations in performance, contributing valuable insights for improving trauma triage protocols.

4. Evaluation of Prehospital Emergency Medical Services before and after COVID-19 in Mashhad

  • Authors: TA Khalaj, N Sangsefidi, H Shafaei, A Yazdani, H Mahzoun, GD Ahmadi
  • Conference: 1st International Congress on COVID-19 World Experiences
  • Publication Year: 2023
  • Abstract: This paper provides an evaluation of the performance and adaptation of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) in Mashhad before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study compares EMS data from both periods to assess changes in response times, resource allocation, and the overall efficiency of services. The findings highlight significant shifts in emergency medical protocols and suggest areas for improvement in handling public health crises.

Conclusion:

Mrs. Toktam Akbari Khalaj is a strong candidate for the Research Excellence Endeavor Award, given her significant contributions to biostatistics, particularly in pre-hospital emergency services and traffic accident analysis. Her research directly impacts public health through improving EMS protocols and trauma prediction systems, and her technical expertise is highly commendable.

To further strengthen her candidacy, expanding her research focus beyond traffic accident outcomes to broader public health issues and increasing her involvement in international research collaborations would enhance her profile. Nonetheless, her current contributions are highly aligned with the award’s focus on research excellence in impactful public health areas.