What drew you to social policy research and the Heller PhD program?
Before I joined the PhD program at the Heller School, I already worked for nearly two decades in public health and health policy in many roles, including supporting program implementation, providing technical assistance to local organizations, working directly with individuals and communities and designing and providing trainings for patients, families, peers, groups and families. I also had the opportunity to work with the government in Vietnam to provide technical assistance to government entities, non-profit organizations and research institutions to help strengthen the systems and policies for the treatment of HIV and substance use disorders.
This professional experience helped me realize the importance of understanding the policy landscape and using research effectively to inform policy and guide program decisions. From my professional network, I had a chance to work with one Heller alumnus, and their work was an example of the type of impact I wanted to make. After learning more about the Heller PhD program, I could see myself being a part of this community dedicated to improving people's lives. I wanted to strengthen my ability to use research to inform policy by identifying the barriers that limit people from accessing essential services and ultimately to help build accessible treatment systems for people in need.
Describe your dissertation research.
My dissertation was a mixed-methods evaluation of the national pilot take-home dose program for Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) patients in Vietnam. In this research, I assessed three key areas of the policy, including patient outcome, the cost effectiveness of the policy and the outcome implementations. In particular, I assessed whether the policy could improve patients' adherence to the treatment as well as the economic value of the policy for the health systems and the providers, and identified the barriers and facilitators for the program implementations. My findings provided evidence to support the effective treatments like MMT. After completing my dissertation, I was very happy to be able to share my results with the government of Vietnam and provide recommendations to implement the program effectively.
What is your current role?
I’m a principal research associate at Westat, where I'm currently working on a research project evaluating the five large scale national prevention programs. As an evaluation lead for one of these programs, I designed the evaluation plans and am executing the program to assess the implementations as well as outcomes across 168 sites in nearly 30 states and territories.
I also contributed to research examining the economic impact of behavioral health conditions, especially substance use disorders, and the way policy decisions influence people's use of healthcare services. The findings of our research provide practical insights that strengthen the program implementation, guide the program considerations and also support the quality improvement of the programs.
My decades of prior professional experience in addition to my Heller training prepared me very well for my role at Westat. The Heller PhD program strengthened my research skills, deepened my ability to ask meaningful, important questions, and also improved the way I communicate research results. The coursework’s focus on both quantitative and qualitative methodology helped me gain the tools to design the mixed-methods evaluations, and also have enabled me to contribute complex, important large-scale research projects at Westat.
Describe the Heller community and the role it played in your PhD experience.
What I appreciate most is that Heller is not only a place that provides very strong support, but also an environment committed to applying knowledge and nurturing meaningful professor-mentor relationships. Starting the program during the COVID pandemic was very challenging, but I couldn't have finished my program within four years without receiving very strong guidance and support from my advisor, my dissertation committee and all of the other professors. The faculty and staff at Heller understand how to help students succeed and reach our individual goals. No matter our background, research interest, or concentration, all of our perspectives and ideas were valued and seen as important.
I was also able to participate in multiple research projects which helped me to apply the classroom learning to real world questions. For example, I worked with Dr. Nandakumar to assess the economic value and health spending of US-funded HIV global programs, and with Dr. Traci Green to evaluate the policies on overdose prevention programs at both county and state levels. I also worked with Dr. Maureen Stewart to analyze health plan policies and how they affect people's access to treatment. It was a very exciting project that was applicable to the work I started doing immediately after graduation.
When I talk about the community, I have to highlight my dissertation committee members: Dr. Dominic Hodgkin, who was my chair and professor of many classes, Mary Brolin, PhD'05, Dr. Connie Horgan, Dr. Diana Bowser, director of the PhD program at the time and one of my committee members, and Victor Capoccia, PhD'78. They are distinguished experts whom I consider long-term mentors, not only during my time at Heller, but beyond my graduation.
What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering a PhD in social policy?
I'm so grateful to be part of the Heller School—the experience and training I received formed a very strong foundation for my career. For anyone seeking a place to develop research skills, tackle real world policy challenges and deepen their understanding of social policy to help create a better world, Heller is an excellent environment to learn, grow and contribute.