Renee N. Saris-Baglama, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Saris-Baglama, a Senior Research Associate at Group Dimensions International, has more than fifteen years of experience in applied health and social science research.  She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Rhode Island where she was trained as a social psychologist. 

Dr. Saris-Baglama has taught courses in general psychology, social psychology, quantitative methods, research methods, psychology of women, and women’s studies.  She has facilitated workshops on media literacy, diversity, and women’s issues, as well as trainings on products and services related to the health outcomes research market.  She served as a member of the American Psychological Association’s Division 35 Task Force on Women and Poverty that published a special issue on poverty for the Journal of Social Issues and advocated for the passing of a Resolution on Poverty and Socioeconomic Status to provide a framework for psychologists to understand the causes and consequences of poverty, become involved in relevant research, advocate for effective programs and policies, and promote positive social change.  She is a reviewer for the interdisciplinary journal, Sex Roles.

Dr. Saris-Baglama’s research spans and bridges the areas of social, community, and health psychology, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. She has been a Co-Investigator or Research Scientist on several pilot and large-scale National Institutes of Health-funded initiatives to develop and validate health-related quality of life assessments in the areas of kidney disease, asthma, headache, HIV, pain, and child health; and has led or advised consulting projects for pharmaceutical and health management clients interested in patient-reported outcomes measurement.  In this capacity, she has collaborated with leading academic, patient advocacy, health-care delivery, and for-profit organizations.