Seattle, WA
Sam Ostroff
Communications · Mixed Methods Research · Program Management
Complex data. Human insight. Stories that move the needle.
Seattle, WA
Communications · Mixed Methods Research · Program Management
Complex data. Human insight. Stories that move the needle.
I'm a communications specialist with a background in mixed methods research and program management — built over a decade at the intersection of global health science, policy, and narrative. My work is the connective tissue between raw data and the decisions it should drive.
I am currently a Scientific Writer at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, leading projects in scientific publications and communications for one of the world's most cited global health research programs — partnering with data scientists, engineers, policymakers, and executive leadership globally.
I have also designed and delivered technical training workshops on scientific communications for researchers, scientists, and professionals in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and across the globe — helping teams translate their findings into clear, compelling narratives that reach the audiences who need them most.
A trained interdisciplinary social scientist with deep South Asia regional expertise, I bring rigorous mixed methods research skills, multilingual fluency, and cross-cultural understanding to every project. Business management studies at UW's Foster School of Business round out my profile with strong program management, strategic thinking, and organizational leadership.
Outside of work, I live in Seattle with my wife, two kids, and River — our French Pyrenean Pointer. I'm an avid sports fan and reader, and I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors — trail running, skiing, and tennis are staples of my Pacific Northwest life. I also care deeply about my community and take on leadership roles locally whenever I can.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) · University of Washington · Seattle, WA
Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies · University of Washington · Seattle, WA
University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA
Archival history of British colonial power at the Gulf of Mannar pearl fisheries — labor, markets, and governance at the edge of empire.
Read →Environmental and imperial history asking what the oyster's depletion reveals about the limits of colonial extraction.
Read →Epidemiological data made accessible — examining Indonesia's decision to prioritize working-age adults in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Read →Co-authored with former CDC Director Jeffrey Koplan — three enduring principles for effective pandemic response.
Read →Subnational disease burden across Indonesia's 34 provinces over three decades — quantifying health inequalities to inform national policy. Co-authored with former Indonesian Minister of Health Nafsiah Mboi.
Read →The most comprehensive global health audit to date — 375 diseases, 88 risk factors, 204 countries, 1990–2023.
Read →Cross-sectional analysis of 3,110 US counties identifying the key drivers of health care spending variation — with service utilization accounting for nearly two-thirds of the gap.
Read →A selection of publications. Full list available upon request.
Open to opportunities in communications, research, and program management. I'd love to hear from you.