Abby Smith, a Boston native, returned to the city this summer after spending four years…
SIX QUESTIONS FOR FIRST-YEAR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS: MADISON DIETL
After spending four years in Charlottesville earning her BS in Biology, Maddie decided to move back to her home-state of Massachusetts, and her OrACORe colleagues could not be happier. Whether she is discussing her research on social determinants of health, helping to recruit TOPS participants, or leading a riveting journal club, we can always count on Maddie to bring something new to the table. And if you are looking for something to read, Maddie suggests checking out “Anxious People” by Frederik Backman – especially if you enjoy comedies and mysteries!
What about this research position attracted you to it?
I have always loved science, and I was fortunate to spend a lot of time during my undergraduate years working in wet labs. I have also always been interested in science policy and the big-picture forces that exist behind the scenes of healthcare in America. I wanted a job where I could both zoom out from basic science and dive deeper into my interests in healthcare-based policy and data analysis. When I came across the job posting at OrACORe for Health Policy and Clinical Research, I thought it checked all the boxes! Furthermore, upon interviewing, I found that the current Research Assistants (RAs) were kind and welcoming, and the culture seemed designed to lift you up and set you on a path to a meaningful career.
What do you enjoy most about working at OrACORe?
I love the interdisciplinary nature of the research assistant position. In a typical day, I might work with statisticians, policy experts, clinicians, and my fellow RAs of various backgrounds. I get to view healthcare from many angles: from modeling the efficacy of treatments for knee osteoarthritis, to interacting with study participants for one of the clinical studies, to researching the cost of pharmaceutical drugs. There is something new to learn each day. However, my favorite aspects of the job are my coworkers and the OrACORe environment. I look forward every day to working with such smart and kind people. There is always someone to bounce ideas off, to talk to when questions arise, or just to chat and laugh with.
What is one piece of advice/wisdom you would offer to someone considering applying to a research position at OrACORe?
I would advise those considering applying to OrACORe to keep an open mind. At first, I was uncertain about the more clinical aspects of the job, especially interacting with study participants. However, working with subjects has turned out to be an incredibly enriching experience for me. Next month, I am going to observe a TKR from the operating room, something I never would have wanted to do before working at OrACORe. Say yes to everything!
What does a day in the life at OrACORe look like for you? What is your favorite project that you are working on and why?
‘A day in the life’ for me always begins with prescreening for TOPS in the electronic medical system. I look for potential participants who meet the study inclusion/exclusion criteria and send letters that introduce the study and includes contact information if they are interested. After the letters are complete, I shift to working on modeling projects. I am a co-lead on a project for OAPol, where we are building a framework to use the model to conduct a distributional cost effectiveness analysis to incorporate health inequality concerns into the economic evaluation of an intervention to increase physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis. The opportunity to lead a project so early in my time here showcases how OrACORe fosters leadership and independence in RAs, and it is also why OAPol is my favorite project. When lunchtime comes around, the RAs will typically eat together outside if it is nice, or at the conference table in the office. This social time always reenergizes me for the rest of the day. After lunch, I may shift to my other modeling project and work on debugging the latest FraPol model update. The rest of the day may be spent calling potential participants for TOPS, or conducting individual interviews for GLOW, where we are learning, through a qualitative lens, about participants’ perceptions and beliefs around GLP-1RA medication use for weight loss and knee pain relief. Every day is different and offers something new to try or learn.
What have your first few months living in Boston looked like?
I grew up in the suburbs of Boston but went to college far away, and I am so glad to be back! I love to try new restaurants, run along the Back Bay Fens, and meet up with friends for a picnic in the Public Garden. Once the Red Sox start playing again, I’ll be at Fenway as often as possible.
What are your plans post-OrACORe?
Right now, I intend to attend graduate school in a field somewhere within the realm of health policy. While I am still figuring out exactly what that will look like, working at OrACORe has reinforced and expanded my interest in research, policy, and health care science, and I am confident I want to continue down this path. Over the next two years, I am excited to continue exploring these fields and learning from the experienced people who surround me here.
