Gary Smith Team
Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH
Principal Investigator
Dr. Gary A. Smith is a Professor of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology at The Ohio State University. He is founder and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Smith is board certified in the specialties of pediatrics and general preventive medicine and public health, and in the subspecialty of pediatric emergency medicine. In addition to his clinical training, he holds MPH and DrPH degrees from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Smith’s research and advocacy focus on the epidemiology and prevention of pediatric and adolescent injuries, including consumer product-related injuries and motor vehicle-related injuries. Recent studies also include the investigation of parent-voice versus conventional tone residential smoke alarms to awaken children and pediatric poisoning. Dr. Smith has been a contributor to the field of injury, especially through research that informs public policy, for more than 35 years.
Team Members
Jaahnavi Badeti, BDS, MPH
Biostatistician
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Jaahnavi joined Dr. Smith’s team in 2019 as a Biostatistician II. She earned her bachelor’s degree in dentistry in India in 2013 and practiced clinical dentistry for four years. She received her Master of Public Health, with a focus on biostatistics from Kent State University in 2019. She worked as a graduate/research assistant at Kent State and as a biostatistics intern at Oriana House, Inc. a corrections facility. Her research on Dr. Smith’s team involves analyzing trends in a variety of pediatric injuries over time, contributing to policy changes to mitigate the number and severity of children suffering various types of injuries. Outside of work, Jaahnavi enjoys having fun with her dog, sketching, playing chess, playing sudoku, and listening to music.
Jill Bastyr
Research Assistant
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Jill is a Research Assistant on Dr. Smith's team as a National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) coder. Jill graduated from The Ohio State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. Jill is currently applying to medical school to combine her passions for science, public health, and holistic healing. She is excited to see her work on Dr. Smith's team come to life and improve safety standards for pediatric and adult patients. Outside of work, Jill likes to read, hangout with her cat, and visit local cafes in Columbus.
Sandhya Kistamgari, MPH, BDS
Biostatistician
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Sandhya joined Dr. Smith’s team in 2018 as a Biostatistician II. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery (BDS) from India and Master of Public Health with a focus on biostatistics from Kent State University. She is responsible for data analysis, manuscript writing, and mentoring summer interns. Her research interests include suicide prevention, sports injury, drug overdose, and substance abuse. She likes to travel, watch movies, and spend time with family.
Leslie White
Research Assistant
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Leslie is a Research Assistant on Dr. Smith’s team in the Center for Injury Research and Policy. She works closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), entering data into the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). She joined the CIRP team in 2015. She received a BS in Psychology and Communication Studies from University of Maryland in 2013, after spending 7 years living in Japan and England with the USAF. She has a passion for childhood safety and discovering current products that could be dangerous to children. Outside of research, she enjoys being a mother, artistic projects, traveling, and trying new experiences.