Clara Soh on What Makes a Good Project Manager

In Chapter 19 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "What Has Your Experience Taught You About What Makes a Good Project Manager?" Soh shares how awareness, organization and preparation help her better lead and manage project teams. She notes the many resource variables involved in health policy and science research project management. By using these approaches she is able to bring together teams of programmers principal research investigators to manage and complete projects successfully. Clara Soh is a health economist and Senior Director of Policy and Research at a pharmaceutical trade organization in Washington, DC. Previously, Soh held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) and Health Policy Research Northwest (HPRN). Soh earned her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) in Policy Analysis and Healthcare Public Finance from the NYU Wagner School and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

Clara Soh on Adapting Job Skills to Work in Washington DC Politics

In Chapter 20 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Soh shares how she gets research career advice from peers and experts in her field. She notes this academic and collegial community is different from a new one she needs to navigate for her job - the political network of Washington DC. She shares approaches she is taking to build new relationships for her work. Clara Soh is a health economist and Senior Director of Policy and Research at a pharmaceutical trade organization in Washington, DC. Previously, Soh held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) and Health Policy Research Northwest (HPRN). Soh earned her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) in Policy Analysis and Healthcare Public Finance from the NYU Wagner School and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

Why Rock Climbing Appeals to Scientists and Engineers - Clara Soh

In Chapter 10 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams details why rock climbing appeals to analytical thinkers, including scientists and engineers. With rock climbing, the rock is constant and climbers apply changes. It is an application of the scientific method that allows for incremental advancement and measurable progress.  Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. 

How Information Sharing Stimulates Public Health Innovation - Clara Soh

In Chapter 9 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams shares how information and knowledge sharing enables collaboration and innovation. Soh brings together multiple states' Medicaid groups to address public health policy making challenges. While Medicaid programs differ state by state, Soh finds the knowledge sharing benefits participating groups in ways not previously considered.  Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

How Science Nerd Overcomes Unpopularity and Saves Lives - Clara Soh

In Chapter 8 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist Clara Soh Williams shares how she deals with being unpopular as a comparative effectiveness researcher. Soh, who majored in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale, follows her passion to research drug effectiveness compared to alternative drugs. Based on research into Vioxx and health implications, she believes she saves lives by providing patients and providers tools to make correct decisions when choosing medication. Additionally, Soh applies her passion for science and research to educate a vulnerable, marginalized population who could use the information.  Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

How Health Economist Helps Kenya mHealth Project Empower Locals - Clara Soh

In Chapter 7 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams shares how she is helping non-profit Kilifi Kids roll out mobile health - mhealth - services in Kenya. Soh highlights the importance of providing information, data, and decision-making tools to local populations to provision health services.  Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

Why to Balance Field Work and Lab Research in a Science Career - Clara Soh

In Chapter 6 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams details how field work and lab - or bench - research offer complementary experiences in building a science career. Soh shares the practical and variable challenges from field research across projects doing hurricane disaster relief and West Africa public health restructuring. These experience teaches Soh to develop more practical implementations and interventions. More scientific bench research provides Williams an idea of what is realistic project expectations and timelines.  Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

How Peace Corps Volunteer Reforms Health Care in West Africa - Clara Soh

In Chapter 5 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams discusses how her Peace Corps experience in the West African country of the Gambia allowed her to impact a national health care system. Soh's 3-year experience focuses on decentralizing the public health decision-making system. This process involves increasing district health office decision-making capacity around disease surveillance, pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain, and regionally executed mass-immunization and vaccination days. Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

How Peace Corps Informs Public Health Career - Clara Soh

In Chapter 4 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams shares why she left her bench research science job to join the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps gives Soh exposure to public health working in the field with a diverse group of program peers. The experience allows Soh to transition into public health and build a career. Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

Why to Major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry - Clara Williams

In Chapter 3 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams shares her motivation to study molecular biophysics and biochemistry while at Yale University. Learning about Mad Cow disease teaches Soh the interdependence of understanding molecular chemical structure - taught in biochemistry - and molecular shape - taught in biophysics. Williams holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

How Scientists and Politicans Can Improve Health Policy Decisions - Clara Soh

In Chapter 2 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams shares how the late Yale biology professor Alvin Novick impacted her career. Novick, who taught biology at Yale for 48 years, teaches Williams the political implications behind scientific research and policy making. In Novick's "AIDS in Society" class, Soh learns how science is anything but colorblind. By teaching scientists, politicians, and policy makers about each other's motivations and priorities, Soh learns how to increase epidemic response mobilization effectiveness. Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. Read more about Professor Novick's career here.

How Health Economist Finds Purpose in a Social Science Career - Clara Soh

In Chapter 1 of 10 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag host Erik Michielsen, health economist and comparative effectiveness researcher Clara Soh Williams addresses health care issues in a social science career. Soh highlights how economics allows her to look at scientific and health care issues in a social environment. For example, this may include comparing treatment effectiveness of two drugs based on not only scientific factors but also social factors. Soh holds an MPA in Public Health Finance from New York University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.