Profile
Katherine Vilain
My CV
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Education:
You probably won’t recognize my lower schools, since they are in the U.S.! Here are my colleges:
University of Texas at Austin (USA) – Bachelor’s of Arts in English with a creative writing focus
University of California at Berkeley (USA) – Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology/Biostatistics
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Work History:
In more or less the right order:
Gift-wrapper at children’s bookstore
Artist’s assistant
Bakery cashier
Pizza delivery girl
Server at a restaurant that NEVER CLOSED. I had to work Christmas, New Year, and other holidays, sometimes from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. The restaurant … finally closed (for good).
Pub bartender in London
Silver service temporary worker in London
Office secretary
University Student Health administrative assistant
Freelance writing advisor/editor/copy editor
Ghostwriter/editor
Research Scientist -
Current Job:
Research Scientist/Manager of Data Coordination
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About Me:
I am one of those people who is way too interested in everything. In addition to my job and family (partner, 2 kids, and 2 dogs), I write fiction and nonfiction for fun, and perform on aerial rope and static trapeze (also for fun).
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Read more
She/her. Originally from Austin, Texas, I received an English degree from the University of Texas, became interested in healthcare data and epidemiology, and moved to the Bay Area for a Master’s of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. I learned cost-effectiveness modeling after grad school. That and wanting to be nearer to my sister led to me move to Kansas City to work in the Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel system) Research department of a hospital.
I have traveled some: I was on a 6-week archeological dig in Israel in the summer of 1997 (and I could still eat hummus at every meal), and spent the summer of 2000 working in London and traveling around the British Isles, plus a jaunt through Spain and into Portugal. More recently, my family was almost trapped on the island of Martinique, a French Department in the Carribbean, at the beginning of the pandemic-related international travel lockdown in March.
Random facts about me: I love books (y/a, nonfiction, adult fiction) and read widely in physical, digital, and audio formats. I have knitted for many years. I like scary movies. I have coeliac disease, which it turns out you can trigger/develop later in life. For a brief time, I make and sold chocolate confections and even got an online chocolatier certification!
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Clinical trials involve a lot of different work: research nurses and doctors who enroll and treat patients, data collectors who fill out forms from the trial related to the patients’ treatment, health events before and after the treatment, and other characteristics; statisticians, programmers, and analysts who look for patterns in the data; and many more.
My role in this complex process is to be in charge of people who collect data from hospitals related to how much it costs to treat clinical trial subjects. I help make special forms so that the subjects know exactly what is being collected, and they can sign it or not. If they do, then my team can use their signed form to collect hospital bills. Then I help the team look at the bills and come up with an average cost for each treatment.
If I’m lucky, I also get to build a model! I use computer programs to help me. I ask myself, What important things could happen that might be different between the treatments? Maybe one group is taking a medicine that makes them more likely to have a heart attack, for instance. Maybe one treatment makes people feel better, even if it doesn’t help them live longer. I look for data, and sometimes make educated guesses, about all these puzzle pieces. It’s like a logic puzzle! It is very satisfying work. When it’s as good as I can get it, I run the model to see what kinds of outcomes are likely to happen, and how much the cost and outcomes change based on the model variables (the things I put into the model). Then I help write a report or even an article to publish about what we found.
This is all in the United States. The way healthcare is paid for here is different from the UK — but the UK has a special government department that pays for new devices and drugs. They requires this kind of analysis, and even conduct make their own model to make sure that they agree with what the drug-maker says.
My daily work involves checking in on studies at different points in the process, working on models or developing forms, or cleaning data. It’s fun for me to get to learn about new treatments, and about heart and blood vessel diseases and disorders. I am not a doctor, so it’s always an education. And I never want to stop learning!
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My Typical Day:
My dog Dottie wakes me up at 6:45, even if I’m not ready to get up! She wants to go outside. My other dog, Charlotte, goes, too, and they bark and chase squirrels. My son and daughter and husband and I all get ready for school and work. Some days, I work on my computer at home. Some days, I drive to work, and listen to a book on the way. There is a cafeteria, but I try to bring my lunch — especially with COVID. I have a desk that lets me stand up to work, and two screens so I don’t have to squint. I hate to stand still, and I don’t really like to sit very long either, so the standing desk is GREAT. I work on the 9th floor of a hospital, which is a long walk up the stairs. There is a park outside and I might go for a jog or walk on my break. After all, the work I do is all about heart health — so I am always reminded that I need to move lots and eat well!
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
infomaniacal, distractible, physical
What did you want to be after you left school?
I have always wanted to be a writer.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
In 4th grade, I was failing my classes. My teacher and mom met with me. We decided I needed to keep a notebook at my desk to jot down things I was distracted thinking about, so I could think about them later! I was also a bit of a sneak in elementary and middle school, but only my friends got in trouble. I was also an athlete, so I didn't get blamed for things.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
You can't go wrong with Sia.
What's your favourite food?
Sushi or pumpkin pie ;). And I eat a green apple every day, so that must be one too.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
(1) To still become a book author. (2) To live a long and healthy life. (3) To keep my family safe and happy.
Tell us a joke.
Q: What did one snowman say to the other snowman? A: Do you smell carrots?
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