SEAMO is thrilled to welcome Behrouz (Behr) Ehsani as our new Senior Data Analyst, a role that our SEAMO community will be delighted to see filled. With an impressive background spanning over 17 years in statistics, biostatistics, and healthcare data, Behr is here to help make sense of complex datasets, streamline data quality, and ultimately enhance physician support in exciting, data-driven ways.
Holding both a BEng and MEng in Agricultural Engineering as well as a PhD in Biotechnology, Behr’s journey has included roles with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s, Abbott Point of Care, and Canadian Blood Services. His expertise shines in areas such as statistical consultation, working with electronic health records, and conducting impactful analyses that yield meaningful, actionable insights. Behr’s publications in peer-reviewed journals further attest to this dedication to using data for real-world solutions—just one of the many reasons SEAMO is excited to have him on board.
Passion Meets Purpose
Behr shared that SEAMO’s mission and his own professional passions are a perfect match. “Working with electronic health records, big data, and helping physicians are my passions,” he explains. With experience at Queen’s and a love for using data to empower healthcare providers, Behr was drawn to SEAMO as a place where he could not only support healthcare research but also directly impact physician decision-making.
What will Behr be doing?
In his new role, Behr is tasked with pulling together diverse datasets, performing data quality checks, creating analytical dashboards, and providing physicians with the insights they need for informed decisions. He’ll also be supporting clinical research by helping with study design, data interpretation, and implementing predictive models to optimize resources and patient flow.
His work will go a long way toward ensuring the SEAMO database is a reliable, user-friendly source of insights. Behr is also excited to share his expertise with physicians through training on data interpretation and the use of analytics tools, bringing data empowerment directly to the people who need it most.
Overcoming the Challenges of Complex Data
While big data offers vast potential, Behr notes that maintaining its quality is an ongoing challenge. He describes data quality (DQ) as an “emergent concept,” one that requires continuous assessment and reassessment. “The quality of Electronic Health Records (EHR) should be constantly and systematically assessed and reassessed to ensure that appropriate levels of quality are maintained in an acceptable and transparent manner,” he explains. Over the next few months, his focus will be on mastering SEAMO’s database and identifying strategies to keep data quality high.
A Few Fun Facts
Aside from his expertise with data, Behr is also known for his culinary skills and loves spending time in the kitchen. He’s proud to call himself “the chef of his kitchen,” a fun twist that SEAMO members might not expect from their new data analyst. And if he could share one piece of advice that’s guided him, it’s this: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice.”
Behr’s enthusiasm, experience and dedication to supporting SEAMO physicians are already making him a valued addition to the team. Welcome, Behr! We look forward to seeing the positive impact you’ll have on SEAMO and beyond.
