Responses were edited for clarity and conciseness.
Please share a short elevator pitch of your dissertation.
My dissertation focuses on buprenorphine dose patterns over the course of pregnancy, and the characteristics that are associated with different dosing patterns. I also focus on how these patterns influence opioid use disorder-related outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Additionally, I’m looking at how buprenorphine prescribers make dosing decisions during pregnancy and what beliefs and attitudes shape their prescribing practices.
What sparked your interest in harm reduction?
My interest in these areas grew out of my clinical work. Since 2019, I’ve been working at Cooper University Healthcare Center for Healing in Camden, New Jersey. I’ve been mostly involved in their perinatal substance use disorder clinic. It’s an integrated program that brings together medical and behavioral health services for pregnant and parenting individuals with substance use disorders. Working with these patients had a huge impact on me. I saw the stigma they face, the complicated systems they have to navigate, and the constant fear of child welfare involvement. I also saw how dramatically their quality of life improved once they were connected to treatment, especially when they received medications in a supportive nonjudgmental environment.
What led you to pursue a PhD at Hopkins?
I realized I wanted to pursue a PhD when I noticed that research was always my favorite part of every job I’ve had. The Bloomberg School of Public Health felt like the right fit because of its strong focus on health services research, policy relevant work and mentorship, which was exactly the environment that I was looking for and wanted to grow in as a researcher. I was also really inspired by the work of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, which is a team that I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with during my PhD program.
Do you prefer qualitative or quantitative work?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. I’ve been lucky to do both quantitative and qualitative work during my PhD program. I really see them as complementary, especially when you’re trying to answer policy-relevant questions.
How do you hope that your research will impact future policies or practices around harm reduction?
I hope that my research helps inform evidence-based policies and practices for pregnant and parenting individuals with substance use disorders. Ultimately, I hope that my work can guide clearer clinical recommendations, expand access to treatment, and strengthen models of care that are grounded in harm reduction and centered on the individual patient’s needs.
How does your clinical pharmacy background inform your research?
It gives me a strong grounding in medication management and how clinical decisions play out in real world practice settings. Working directly with patients also helps me think about research questions in a practical way: knowing where the gaps are in care and how policies can translate to the clinical setting. That perspective has been especially valuable in my work on buprenorphine access and perinatal substance use treatment.
What advice would you give yourself as an undergrad?
I would tell myself that a career doesn’t always follow a linear path. If you just keep leaning into the things that genuinely interest you, your path will take shape.
I would also remind myself that being a well-rounded person matters. Make time for hobbies, relationships, and all the things that bring you joy outside of work, because those parts of your life will fill you up just as much as your academic or career goals.
What is a standout experience you’ve had at Hopkins?
It’s hard to choose just one. A standout experience for me has been the sense of community. Working closely with faculty and peers who are genuinely committed to improving public health and being a part of research teams where everyone is collaborative, supportive, and mission-driven has been important and has shaped my doctoral training.
What are your post-graduation plans?
After graduation I’m planning to pursue an academic faculty position. I’m excited about continuing to work at the intersection of substance use, maternal health, and health policy. I hope to build an independent research agenda in that space.
Do you have any book recommendations?
Well, you can usually find me reading a book that would probably fall into the “beach read” category, but I was recently gifted a book by my sister called The Daily Stoic, and I really enjoyed it.
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