Alumni Profiles Series: Caitlin Sullivan

Caitlin Sullivan is a research health scientist specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Previously, Caitlin was a health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an implementation specialist in health services research and development at the VA. She received her B.S. in psychology and Spanish from St. Lawrence University and her M.S. in population health sciences from Duke University.

WHAT WAS YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE COMING TO DUKE?

I graduated in 2010 and double-majored in psychology and Spanish with a minor in education. It was in the midst of a recession, and it was very difficult to find a job after graduating. My first job in the RTP area was at UNC doing research interviews over the phone. In 2014, I started working at the VA in administration for health services research and development. A number of colleagues encouraged me to explore other positions within the VA that might better suit my skills. After a couple of years, I transitioned to a research assistant position. It was a large umbrella implementation/research operations project. We had three programs that had started either as research, clinical trials or as a clinical program at the Durham VA. The goal was to upscale those programs and to integrate them in eight different VA medical centers.

WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR CHOICE OF DUKE AND YOUR PROGRAM?

I was considering getting an M.P.H. (masters of public health) but discovered the brand-new population health sciences master’s program at Duke. I heard about it because several of the professors in that program also worked at the VA. The Duke population health program allowed me to directly apply what I learned in the classroom to my job at the VA. I learned about implementation science, research methods, and analytics like SAS and R, which I could immediately use in my work. Taking classes on health policy, health systems, and implementation science directly informed my role as an implementation specialist scaling up projects across multiple VA medical centers. The program's emphasis on both qualitative and quantitative research methods helped me analyze data, write papers, and understand complex research designs that I could then apply in my professional work.

What has your professional trajectory looked like after Duke?

I worked at the VA for over a decade and while I very much enjoyed the work, I was ready to seek out other opportunities. I transitioned to the CDC because I wanted to expand my experience in a more programmatic, public health-focused role. The work was more about program implementation and evaluation, which allowed me to draw on skills I developed during my graduate school program. It felt like a great opportunity to further develop professionally.

I led one program and supported parts of another, working closely with the evaluation team and thinking through ways we could improve or do things differently. It turned out to be a great opportunity. However, one thing I've learned from working in the federal government is that Congress is in charge of your funding, so it can definitely shift what projects will be available from one year to the next. For example, I was supposed to lead a national scale-up of a regional training program where we trained STEM teachers to bring public health into classrooms. We developed modules based on the COVID-19 pandemic, covering topics like data visualization, epi curves, and public health systems. We planned to expand to 15 trainings a year in partnership with a university, but we lost funding for that project. I started looking for new opportunities and, ultimately, found my way back to the VA.

Currently, I'm working in hematology-oncology research, which is quite different from my previous roles, so it's been a bit of a learning curve. That said, my background in research design and implementation science has been incredibly helpful. I’ve worked across different phases of research from health services and implementation work, which is more in my comfort zone, to now being more involved in early-phase clinical trials. It’s been a full journey, and while I’m not exactly sure what the future holds, I feel confident that with my degree and experience, I’ll continue to find meaningful opportunities.

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How do you find balance between your professional life and your personal life?

In the federal government, I've found excellent work-life balance. My supervisors are very respectful of off-time, and there's no expectation to check emails after work hours. While I might occasionally work until 5:30 instead of 4:30, I have flexibility for appointments and can take time off when needed. I became more aware of recognizing signs of burnout after experiencing it during my master’s program while working full-time. I now prioritize taking days off if I'm feeling overwhelmed. My work in federal government has instilled values of work-life balance, and I'm committed to ensuring future jobs will respect my personal time. My key strategy is being proactive about setting boundaries and recognizing when I need a break to prevent burnout.

Would you consider pursuing a Ph.D.? What factors would influence your decision?

I thought about going back to get my Ph.D. Honestly, if something were to happen with my current position, like with the restructuring going on in the federal government, I might need to look for a new job. If that happens, I might consider applying for Ph.D. programs either this fall or the following year. I’ve always thought that a job change could be a good time to consider it. Also, if I end up doing work that’s more aligned with what I used to do, especially in areas like health services research or population health, that could make me more motivated to go to school.

For example, when I worked in health services research, I was involved in studies that felt very closely related to Ph.D.-level work, and it would have been easy to transition from that into dissertation projects. I really enjoyed working with caregivers, which was the focus of my thesis, and I even got a paper published on it. Recently, I had the chance to review a paper on caregiving, and it reignited my excitement for that kind of work. It made me realize how much I miss doing that deep dive into research and using my skills in that way.

What advice would you give to current Duke students?

My key advice is to be persistent and not to give up. I graduated during the 2008 recession, then again during the pandemic, but having a master's degree from Duke carries weight, so lean on that and the skills you've gained. Take risks and explore all opportunities, even if they seem slightly outside your comfort zone. Remember that something will work out for everyone, though the path may look different for each person. Be confident in your skills and know that your education provides a strong foundation. I'd also emphasize that your first job doesn't define your entire career. I started in a position that didn't even require a college degree, but it led me to incredible opportunities. Be open to unexpected paths, and don't be discouraged by initial challenges. Your persistence and the skills you've developed will ultimately help you succeed, even during uncertain times like recessions or pandemics. Lastly, trust that your graduate school experience has given you the confidence and capabilities to adapt and thrive in various professional environments.

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AUTHOR

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Suepriya Adhikari

M.S. student, Population Health Sciences

Suepriya Adhikari is an M.S. student in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University. She received dual bachelor’s degrees in public health and economics, and she also received certificates in public policy and civic engagement and public service. She has an interest in the intersection of health policy, economics, and global development. Outside of school, she enjoys running, reading, and baking.