Hallie is a Canadian Doctoral Scholar at the at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. Hallie obtained her MPH in maternal and child health at the George Washington University. She is working under the supervision of Dr. Gina Ogilvie to understand the social and economic impacts of cervical cancer on women and children in Uganda. Outside of academia she enjoys knitting, paddleboarding, traveling, and cooking. 

1. What kind of research are you working on? What led you to pursue this area of research?

My research focuses on understanding the indirect impacts of a cervical cancer diagnosis for women in low- and middle-income countries. I hope to show through my research how a cervical cancer diagnosis can have far reaching impacts beyond the clinical diagnosis. For example, the preliminary findings from my study have shown that many women spend multiple days away from home to attend treatment. This is time that they are spending away from their families and communities. Women are essential providers and it is important to show what kind of impact this disease has on communities. 

2. What is the most exciting thing about your work?

I love the problem solving. Working in global health, things are not always clear cut and often require some creative thinking. I love the ability I have to adapt programs and ideas to fit current needs and situations. This requires me to be flexible a lot of the time. However, it is really rewarding to see all of your hard work pay off with interesting data that others in the field are excited about.

3. How does the your team support you in your career journey?

I truly have one of the most wonderful teams that I feel incredibly lucky to apart of. Everyone supports one another and it is clear that we all want each other to succeed. This of course is due to the strong leadership and mentorship of Dr. Ogilvie. She has provided me with the opportunity to not only lead a study, but also mentor students, develop course materials, and showcase my work. 

4. What is your long-term career goal?

My plan is to stay in Vancouver and continue to work in women’s health. I have wanted to work in women’s health for as long as I can remember. Working for institutions like UBC has been a dream due to the opportunities and mentorship that I have been provided. I hope to continue to work to advance health equality for women worldwide. 

5. Name at least one person to send appreciation message? and why? (Not including your supervisors 🙂

My husband deserves a lot of credit, particularly given all the support he has provided this past year. Launching and monitoring a study is not an easy job that requires many early mornings and travel. Despite his busy schedule, he has worked to make sure that I am able to give focus to my study without worry.