New Member Spotlight: Eshani Pareek

This month, we spotlight new member and health care data specialist Eshani Pareek, who answered the following questions so we could get to know her better:

How did you become interested in statistics and/or data science?

My path to statistics and data science was unconventional. I started as a biochemistry and biotechnology major, working in wet lab research. During my graduate program in biotechnology, a course on statistics in clinical research opened my eyes to how data could accelerate drug discovery and translate biological insights into patient impact.

The turning point came during my internship, when I worked as a business and market analyst for a noninvasive prenatal genetic testing product. We noticed unexpectedly low reimbursement rates, and I was tasked with finding out why. Working with large accessions data sets in SQL, I identified systematic processing issues that were costing the company sizable revenue. Our findings became the key driver of a large-scale process improvement initiative, which led me to a powerful insight: All my biological/clinical knowledge was valuable, but without the ability to analyze data rigorously, I couldn’t translate that knowledge into actionable insights.

That experience truly shaped my career. In all my roles so far, I have worked to bridge life sciences and analytics to solve health challenges. Today, as a health care data specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine—collaborating on research spanning cancer genomics, vascular surgery, stroke care, and autism—I use my biological background to shape study design, identify patterns, and translate findings for clinical impact.

What do you consider your dream job?

My dream is to lead at the intersection of health data science and organizational strategy, translating rigorous research into decisions that transform care delivery and outcomes at scale. Whether that’s directing a research center, leading analytics strategy for a major health system/organization, or helping inform health policy decisions, I want to bridge the gap between data-driven insights and actionable change.

I envision building and leading interdisciplinary teams that don’t just publish findings, but see those findings improve patient outcomes and address pressing health challenges—from cancer care to health equity. That’s where the real impact happens.

What do you hope understanding statistics and/or data science helps you accomplish?

Statistics and data science have taught me to ask rigorous questions. What I hope they can help me accomplish in the long term is to strategically use this skill set to help shape research agendas, identify which questions will actually move the needle on health outcomes, and build evidence that changes practice and policy.

My life sciences background tells me what matters clinically, but statistics and data science help me determine what is answerable and actionable and how to design studies that bridge research with reality. As I take on more leadership, I want to use this combination to frame questions that transform how we approach complex health challenges, not just answer questions others have already asked.

Is there a particular group of statisticians you would like to reach out to you?

I’d love to connect with folks in the NYC Chapter! Being able to meet local statisticians working in health care and collaborate in person would be invaluable. I’m also eager to engage with the Section on Statistics in Genomics and Genetics, as much of my current work involves genomic analyses, and that intersection of biology and statistics is what I’m most passionate about.

What is your favorite hobby?

My favorite hobby is watercolor painting! It is equal parts meditative and creative, helping me enter a flow state, and it’s completely different from my analytical work. There’s something satisfying about working with a medium you can’t fully control—you set up the conditions and see what emerges. Which isn’t too different from working with messy health care data. I’ve also recently become a runner after years of resistance. The turning point was realizing that absolutely any pace is valid! Now it is my go-to approach to clear my head and think through complex problems.

What is something you would like people to know about you that we haven’t asked?

A few years ago, I started lifting weights and discovered something unexpected: the most practical application of a growth mindset. It completely transformed how I approach everything, including my work. In the gym, progress is measurable and honest, and getting there requires consistency, patience, and above all, being comfortable with incremental progress that is pretty much invisible day-to-day, but undeniable over months and years. Also, showing up looks different on different days—and that’s okay!

It taught me to trust the process, even when the results aren’t immediate. To see setbacks as data points rather than failures and focus only on what I can control. I apply that same mindset to complex research problems now—staying patient with messy data, trusting that consistent effort compounds, and measuring progress over longer periods of time. Sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected places.

If you are a new member interested in being featured, email ASA Communications Manager Megan Murphy.

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