Debora Kamin Mukaz, Ph.D, M.S.,

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology

debora.kamin-mukaz@med.uvm.edu
A person wearing glasses
debora.kamin-mukaz@med.uvm.edu
Alma mater(s)
  • PhD, Medical Sciences, University of Delaware (2019)
  • MS, Biological Sciences, University of Delaware (2014)
  • BA, Biology and French, Luther College (2010)
  • Postdoctoral Training, Molecular and Social Epidemiology, University of Vermont (2024)
Affiliated Department(s)

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry

Media Ready

radio/podcast

radio/podcast

TV/video

TV/video

print/web

print/web

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Area(s) of expertise

  • Cardiovascular/Cardiometabolic Conditions
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Hypertension
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • COVID-19
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Social Epidemiology
  • Proteomics
  • Multi-omics
  • Inflammation
  • Thrombosis
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Biomarkers
  • Social/Structural Determinants of Health

BIO

Debora Kamin Mukaz is a social and molecular epidemiologist whose main research investigates cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions, with a particular emphasis on the biological embodiment of the external environment. Dr. Kamin Mukaz’s lab aims to integrate molecular and social epidemiology principles to ascertain whether structural and social determinants of health affect biological markers to increase risk of cardiovascular health and cardiovascular/cardiometabolic conditions.

Dr. Kamin Mukaz is faculty in the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research at the University and an investigator of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS), a national longitudinal study on cognitive impairment and stroke mortality. 

Publications

Dr. Kamin Mukaz's publications

Awards and Achievements

Selected Honors

  • 1000 Inspiring Black Scientists, Cell Mentor (2020)
  • Rising Star in Health Sciences Research, University of Utah (2022)
  • Intersections Science Fellow, Intersections Science Fellowship Symposium (2023)
  • 2nd Annual Brazilian Scientific Journey on Mitochondrial Deregulation E.E. Just Early Career Investigator Award (2024)

Editorial Board Member

  • npj Women’s Health (2024)
  • PLOS Global Health (2024)

Bio

Debora Kamin Mukaz is a social and molecular epidemiologist whose main research investigates cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions, with a particular emphasis on the biological embodiment of the external environment. Dr. Kamin Mukaz’s lab aims to integrate molecular and social epidemiology principles to ascertain whether structural and social determinants of health affect biological markers to increase risk of cardiovascular health and cardiovascular/cardiometabolic conditions.

Dr. Kamin Mukaz is faculty in the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research at the University and an investigator of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS), a national longitudinal study on cognitive impairment and stroke mortality. 

Publications

Dr. Kamin Mukaz's publications

Awards and Achievements

Selected Honors

  • 1000 Inspiring Black Scientists, Cell Mentor (2020)
  • Rising Star in Health Sciences Research, University of Utah (2022)
  • Intersections Science Fellow, Intersections Science Fellowship Symposium (2023)
  • 2nd Annual Brazilian Scientific Journey on Mitochondrial Deregulation E.E. Just Early Career Investigator Award (2024)

Editorial Board Member

  • npj Women’s Health (2024)
  • PLOS Global Health (2024)

Publications and Media

Selected publications

  1. Kamin Mukaz D, Gergi M, Koh I, Zakai NA, Judd SE, Sholzberg M, Baumann Kreuziger L, Freeman K, Colovos C, Olson NC, & Cushman M. Thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers and D-dimer in a biracial cohort study. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2021;5(8):e12632. PMCID: PMC8652130.
  2. Levitan EB, Howard VJ, Cushman M, Judd SE, Tison SE, Yuan Y, Kamin Mukaz D, Wang HE., Pamir N, Plante TB, Juraschek SP, Safford MM, Goyal P. Health care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic by race and social determinants of health among adults age ≥ 58 years in the REGARDS study. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):2255. PMCID: PMC8665704.
  3. Armstrong ND, Irvin MR, Haley WE, Blinka MD, Kamin Mukaz D, Patki A, Rutherford Siegel S, Shalev I, Durda P, Mathias RA, Walston JD, Roth DL. Telomere shortening and the transition to family caregiving in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0268689. PMCID: PMC9165822.
  4. Oelsner EC, Krishnaswamy A, Balte PP, Allen NB, Ali T, Anugu P, Andrews HF, Arora K, Asaro A, Barr RG, Bertoni AG, Bon J, Boyle R, Chang AA, Chen G, Coady S, Cole SA, Coresh J, Cornell E, Correa A, Couper D, Cushman M, Demmer RT, Elkind MSV, Folsom AR, Fretts AM, Gabriel KP, Gallo LC, Gutierrez J, Han MLK, Henderson JM, Howard VJ, Isasi CR, Jacobs DR Jr, Judd SE, Kamin Mukaz D, Kanaya AM, Kandula NR, Kaplan RC, Kinney GL, Kucharska-Newton A, Lee JS, Lewis CE, Levine DA, Levitan EB, Levy BD, Make BJ, Malloy K, Manly JJ, Mendoza-Puccini C, Meyer KA, Min YN, Moll MR, Moore WC, Mauger D, Ortega VE, Palta P, Parker MM, Phipatanakul W, Post WS, Postow L, Psaty BM, Regan EA, Ring K, Roger VL, Rotter JI, Rundek T, Sacco RL, Schembri M, Schwartz DA, Seshadri S, Shikany JM, Sims M, Hinckley Stukovsky KD, Talavera GA, Tracy RP, Umans JG, Vasan RS, Watson KE, Wenzel SE, Winters K, Woodruff PG, Xanthakis V, Zhang Y, Zhang Y; for the C4R Investigators. Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) study: study design. Am J Epidemiol. 2022;191(7):1153-1173. PMCID: PMC8992336.
  5. Kamin Mukaz D, Dawson E, Howard VJ, Cushman M, Higginbotham JC, Judd SE, Kissela BM, Safford MM, Soliman EZ, Howard G. Rural/urban differences in the prevalence of stroke risk factors: A cross-sectional analysis from the REGARDS study. J Rural Health. 2022;38(3):668-673. PMCID: PMC8761227.
  6. Kamin Mukaz D, Melby MK, Papas MA, Setiloane K, Nmezi NA, Commodore-Mensah Y. Diabetes and acculturation in African immigrants to the United States: analysis of the 2010-2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Ethn Health. 2022;27(4):770-780. PMID: 32977725.
  7. Kamin Mukaz D, Guo B, Long DL, Judd SE, Plante TB, McClure LA, Wolberg AS, Zakai NA, Howard G, Cushman M. D-dimer and the risk of hypertension: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS). Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022; 7(1): 100016. PMCID: PMC9903654.
  8. Chen C, Yang K, Nan H, Unverzagt F,McClure LA, Irvin MR, Judd S, Cushman M, Kamin Mukaz D, Klaunig JE, D'Alton ME, Kahe K. Associations of telomere length and change with cognitive decline were modified by sex and race: the REGARDS Study. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2023;38:15333175231175797. PMID: 37340856.
  9. Kamin Mukaz D*, Cushman M. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in acute myocardial infarction: community wealth matters (Editorial). J Am Heart Assoc. 2023;e031415. PMID: 37646210.
  10. Palermo B, Wilkinson K, Plante TB, Nicoli C, Judd S, Kamin Mukaz D, Long L, Olson N, Cushman M. Interleukin-6, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in a biracial cohort: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke cohort. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(3):491-500. PMID: 38237104.
  11. Plante TB, Juraschek SP, Howard G, Howard VJ, Tracy RP, Olson NC, Judd SE, Kamin Mukaz D, Zakai NA, Long DL, Cushman M. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, Cytokines, C-reactive protein, and risk of incident hypertension in the REGARDS study. Hypertension. 2024; 81(6):1244-1253. PMID: 38487890.
  12. Cruden K, Wilkinson K, Kamin Mukaz D, Plante TB, Reiner AP, Zakai NA, Carson AP,  Long DL, Cushman M, Olson NC. Soluble CD14 and incident diabetes risk: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. J Endoc Soc. 2024;8(7):bvae097.
  13. Stoutenburg E, Sherman S, Bravo M, Howard V, Mukaz DK, Cushman M, Zakai NA, Judd S, Plante  TB. Factor VIII and incident hypertension in Black and White adults: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Am J Hypertens. 2024;37(8):580-587.
  14. Sherman S, Stoutenburg E, Long L, Juraschek SP, Cushman M, Howard VJ, Tracy RP, Judd SE, Kamin Mukaz D, Zakai NA, Plante TB. The association of leptin and hypertension in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. J Hum Hypertens. 2024;38(12):836-843.
  15. Kamin Mukaz D, Tison S, Carson A, Hunt K, Long L, Judd S, Lewis MR, Cushman M. Measuring Hemoglobin A1C with frozen packed cell and frozen whole blood samples in an epidemiologic Study: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. J Clin Lab Anal. 2025;39(4):e25121

Selected Media

  1. Ferrante A. UVM at the Forefront of Stroke and Brain Health Research. University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. October 14, 2024. https://www.uvm.edu/news/larnermed/uvm-forefront-stroke-and-brain-health-research
  2. Ferrante A. Inflammation May Play a Key Role in the Development of Hypertension. University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Office of Medical Communications. April 10, 2024. https://www.med.uvm.edu/medcommunications/news/2024/04/10/inflammation_may_play_a_key_role_in_the_development_of_hypertension
  3. Brenner M. Larner faculty and students present at AHA EPI/Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2024. University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Office of Medical Communications. March 28, 2024. https://www.med.uvm.edu/medcommunications/news/2024/03/28/larner_faculty_and_students_presented_research_at_the_american_heart_association_epi_lifestyle_scientific_sessions_2024
  4. Émission pour l’Afrique. [Podcast]. Vatican News. January 24, 2022. https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/podcast/le-magazine-pour-l-afrique/2022/01/programme-francais-afrique-24-01-2022.html
  5. The Community of Scholars. 1,000 inspiring Black scientists in America. Cell Mentor. December 28, 2020. https://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/1000-inspiring-black-scientists-in-america
  6. Qaiser, F. #BlackInCardio Week Highlights Black Cardiovascular Researchers. Forbes. Oct 26, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/farahqaiser/2020/10/26/blackincardio-week-highlights-black-cardiovascular-researchers/?sh=2fcb92dc6972.
  7. Smith M. Student Awards Bring Young Researchers to AAAS’ 2019 Annual Meeting. March 29, 2019. https://www.aaas.org/membership/member-spotlight/student-awards-bring-young-researchers-aaas-2019-annual-meetin