Blending her passion for storytelling with a dedication to healthcare, Jaime Shuster, Ph.D, has blazed a unique career path leading to her current position as research program manager in orthopedics & sports medicine at the Cleveland Clinic main campus.
Her journey began not in the sterile halls of a hospital, but in the vibrant world of journalism. As a multimedia journalism major at the Թ Trumbull Campus, she wrote for her hometown newspaper, The Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, captivated by the power of storytelling. Yet, after taking a transformative psychology class at Թ State, she found her true calling.
“I thought, why not apply my writing skills to a field that benefits people in a more direct way?” Shuster reflected, recalling her shift from journalism to psychological sciences. Her passion for understanding human behavior led her to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology, followed by advanced studies in public health.
“You get to do a broad scope of things, and then you can actually look at how this benefits people longer term,” Shuster said.
Interdisciplinary Approach
At Թ State, she was in the Honors College and earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology (2008), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Health Policy Management in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Public Health/Health Policy Management (2018). She also earned a Master of Arts (M.A.), in Experimental Psychology in 2011 from Cleveland State University. As a trained experimental psychologist and epidemiologist, Shuster specializes in data analysis, neuroscience and injury prevention. Her path, though unconventional, highlights the value of combining various disciplines in healthcare research. Her training prepared her to utilize both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and when appropriate, how they can inform each other.
Balancing academia with motherhood, Shuster became a non-traditional student at nearly 30. Encouraged by dedicated professors, she soon found herself knee-deep in research on traumatic brain injuries, merging her love for psychology with public health.
Her supportive family has been a constant source of pride. “My dad loved that I was going into journalism. He was my editor,” she recalled fondly. However, her mother had different expectations, believing she should prioritize a stable job over education. “But, I think they’re both proud of where I’ve ended up,” Shuster said, especially her husband, who encouraged her while also deciding to return to school for his own degree in information technology.
