What attracted you to the health metrics field?
During my first few years in college, I considered several different fields of study, but health metrics was never one of them. However, during my last two years at the University of Virginia, I worked as a community organizer in southern Virginia, and, as part of this work, we conducted two large-scale household surveys to assess residents’ concerns on a range of issues. Over two summers, we talked to thousands of residents and shared their responses with state lawmakers. Two things stuck with me from this experience. The first was that people in Virginia were really concerned about their health. The second was that policymakers respond well when information is presented in clear and concise terms. I began looking for places where I could learn how to more effectively use numbers to improve health, and this search led me to the field of health metrics and to IHME.
What work are you doing at IHME?
I work on two research teams at IHME: Risk Factors and Cost Effectiveness. As part of the Risk Factors team, I am producing estimates of breastfeeding rates in 137 developing countries. We will estimate as many rates as possible using data from an array of reproductive health surveys, and then we will produce a series of models to help us estimate missing values. As part of the Cost Effectiveness team, I am working to develop a program to help policymakers and funders predict how different combinations of interventions can improve child and maternal health in developing countries. These projects are a perfect combination, helping me build upon my previous experience with surveys to learn more efficient ways to analyze data and effectively present the findings.
How do you think your experience at IHME will contribute to your future work?
My long-term goal is to work in an environment where I can combine work as a clinician and as a public health researcher to improve the lives of people in resource-poor settings. The methodological rigor, innovative techniques, and professional connections I am gaining at IHME will ultimately enhance my ability to demonstrate the need for interventions and prove their effectiveness in the communities I hope to serve.
