Assistant Professor
Department of Population Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and Public Health at UW-Madison
I am an applied economist and health services researcher whose research has focused on evaluating the impact of changes in policies, health-related interventions, and external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic on population health outcomes and well-being, in general. I have gained expertise in evaluating changes occasioned by policy as well as non-policy shocks and understanding how and to what extent people and institutions respond to incentives, regulatory changes, and other environmental changes in and outside of the health care environment. Specifically, some of these research projects assessed the impact of system reforms in healthcare payment with implementation of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other new alternative payment models (APMs) on provider behavior, healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. I have also been working on projects evaluating the impact of public policies on social determinants of health, and more recently the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to care for individuals with disability, on economic and non-economic factors and their effects on adults’ psychological health.
Ouayogodé, Mariétou – Population Health Sciences – UW–Madison (wisc.edu)
What is your education/career background?
I obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business and Master of Art and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, all at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. I also went on to complete a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
After a few years of postdoctoral fellowship, I joined the faculty in the Population Health Sciences department of the School of Medicine and Public Health at UW-Madison.
How have you navigated a career in STEM as a woman/underrepresented minority?
As a non-native speaker coming to US after high school to pursue a higher education, I was determined to do my best to quickly bring myself up to speed with the language, the education system and my field of interest. I remained focused on my academic work and courses I took. Other important things that helped me through my training were surrounding myself with people with similar objectives and working with classmates as I recognized the power of the collective in solving challenges along the way. I also made sure to not take anything for granted and connect with others with more seniority in the field in order to learn from their experiences as I made my own. Importantly, I did not hesitate to reach out to professors for help by asking questions in class and during office hours. I also joined professional associations in my field to start building a professional network and found academic and/or professional mentors that provided me with valuable guidance. These strategies not only allowed me to perform well academically but also opened up opportunities for professional development for a better transition to the next level I went to.
What advice do you have for women/underrepresented groups pursuing an education/career in STEM?
I will advise young women and underrepresented groups pursuing an education/career in STEM to remained focused and determined to succeed. They should remain humble and willing to learn. There will be obstacles and difficulties of various natures in addition to being a minority, but they should not give up. Mistakes are inevitable but they should see those as learning opportunities to do it right the next time. They should also see professors as allies, a great resource to tap into, and as people who want them to succeed. They should also find mentors to obtain the necessary guidance but should also try to get a solid peer support system.
Building a strong professional network requires time and effort, so they should integrate professional associations in their respective fields, early on, and frequently engage with their networks. These networks will be critical for learning about employment prospects and for keeping up with trends in the field.
Though, some of these may seem trivial, I found that these strategies played a key role in helping me during my training and career. If others have done it, there is no reason for them not to succeed in obtaining STEM degrees and doing well professionally.
What do you enjoy most about your career/current role?
I enjoy all aspects of my role as a faculty member. I have the opportunity to impart knowledge to the next generation of scholars. I find mentoring bright graduate students very rewarding as I get to spend more than a semester with them and give back what I have learned from my mentors and my own experiences. I am delighted to watch my mentees grow professionally and build independence in their research. I look forward to seeing where they will land after their graduate studies.
I mostly take pride in my research studying health (as well as healthcare) policy issues because it is the most personal and complex public policy issue. My research aims and will continue to contribute to advancing knowledge about such important matters with the objective to help improve people’s lives and well-being.
What does diversity, inclusivity, and equity look like to you in your job sector? How do you incorporate DEI in your position?
I am happy to see that my field (health economics) and related professional associations are striving to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) among members. I recognize the importance of fostering DEI and offering equal opportunity to all people with no distinction of race/ethnicity, gender, religion, or other personal traits. In my position, I emphasize the respect of people’s diverse backgrounds both in the classroom, with colleagues, and outside of academia.
What is your favorite way to unwind?
Spending quality time with family and friends.