Based in Reno, Nevada, Sarbyen Sheni is the Coordinator of Public Health Data Analytics at the School of Public Health–Larson Institute for Health Impact, University of Nevada, Reno. Her work centers on partnering with communities—particularly women and people who use drugs—to co-create solutions addressing their core health needs. She is honored to serve as a bridge between communities and policymakers, amplifying voices and advancing sustainable programs that improve health and well-being.

 

Sarbyen’s commitment to community health was shaped by her work with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs in Nigeria, where she developed gender integration guidelines adopted nationwide for health communication and supported vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also contributed to research on opioid overdose response and is pursuing publication to further share her findings and impact.

 

In her current role, Sarbyen in collaboration with a subject matter expert is developing a state report on perinatal behavioral health, engaging diverse stakeholders to design coordinated care strategies for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders. This work reflects her commitment to translating community insights and research into action plans that improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

 

For Sarbyen, advancing health impact means creating systems that ensure fair opportunity and access for all. She is guided by C.S. Lewis’s words: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”