Favorite Parts of Working in Healthcare as a Program Evaluation Specialist
Merissa, a Program Evaluation Specialist, finds the most rewarding aspect of the health research industry to be its potential for positive impact, stating that "every project...has a goal to improve Healthcare or access to health care for everyone." This work's impact is further amplified by incorporating feedback to effect real-world improvements within the constantly evolving U.S. healthcare system.
Healthcare Improvement, Program Evaluation, Research, Impactful Work, Data Analysis
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Merissa Kado-Walton
Program Evaluation Specialist
University of California, San Diego
UCLA 2014
San Diego State University, MA in Psychology
Psychology
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Program evaluation improves healthcare outcomes.
2. Research in healthcare is a slow but impactful process.
3. The US healthcare industry offers continuous improvement opportunities.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in the health research industry?
The most enjoyable part of this industry is knowing that our work leads to better outcomes for other people. Research is a slow process, and sometimes it takes a while to get answers, which can change over time.
Ultimately, the longer we study something, the more accurate picture we get of what healthcare actually looks like. I enjoy that every project I work on has the goal of improving healthcare or access to healthcare for everyone.
We hear feedback from Medicaid recipients and are able to implement changes. We can also elevate that feedback so others can hear it. I think that is the most worthwhile aspect of this work.
It's nice because it's impactful. The healthcare industry in the US is very interesting, with many opportunities for continuous improvement. This is also exciting, knowing that the industry will continue to grow and get better over time.
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