CEVR Welcomes 2026 CEA Registry Summer Fellows
CEVR is thrilled to introduce the 2026 cohort of the Tufts-CEVR CEA Registry Summer Fellowship program, which is supported by the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation.
Over the next weeks, five talented students from graduate programs around the country will review hundreds of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) for CEVR’s CEA Registry while conducting original health policy research of their own.
To get to know the fellows better, we asked them about their research interests, career aspirations, favorite pastimes, and unique experiences. We have shared some of their responses below.
Shruti Ayyalasomayajula, PharmD
Pursuing a PhD in Social and Administrative Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota (2028)
After completing her studies, Shruti hopes to work in clinical trial design, combining her passions of clinical research, trial design, health economics, and decision-making. During the fellowship, she wants to understand how to read CEA studies like a “detective.” Shruti also is a chess enthusiast and former stand-up comedian.
Chukwuemeka (Abraham) Agbarakwe, MBBS, MPH
Completed an MS in Global Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University (2026)
Abraham hopes to pursue a career in clinical research and health data management. He is looking forward to sharpening his CEA interpretation skills, as well as collaborating with other fellows and CEVR mentors. In addition to his professional endeavors, Abraham is a trained chef.
Rachel Sulla, MBChB, MPH
Completed an MPH in Global Health at Harvard University (2026)
Rachel plans to pursue a career or further degree in the field, and she is looking forward to deepening her understanding of CEA frameworks and forming connections with field experts. If Rachel had her own late night talk show, her first guest would be the current president of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama.
Shifa Taj, PharmD
Pursuing a PhD in Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy at the University of Georgia (2030)
Shifa’s goal is to build a career as an independent HEOR researcher in academia or a policy-facing setting, publishing studies that inform coverage and treatment in underserved populations. She looks forward to expanding her HEOR expertise through collaboration with CEVR researchers and applying these skills toward her goal of informing coverage and treatment decisions in underserved populations. In her free time, Shifa likes to go on walks, travel, cook new recipes, and spend time with family.
Waleed Rabbani, MPH, MSc
Completed an MPH in Global Health at Harvard University (2026)
Waleed would like to pursue a PhD in health economics or health technology assessment. During the fellowship, he hopes to learn about the standards used to appraise health economics studies and the intricacies of building and maintaining a database. Waleed loves walking along Boston’s Charles River, and aspires to one day hike to the K2 Base Camp in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range.