Meet Logan – researcher, returning recreational hockey player, and facilitator of better health care decision-making.
Q: What is your research area of interest and why?
A: My research interest is in decision-making in health care, focused on two different levels. The first is at the patient level – and aiming to help patients and their health care providers make better decisions. My interest here stems from the fact that many health care decisions are challenging, and the implications for individuals can be profound. I feel that by empowering patients to be a part of the decision-making process, this will lead to better outcomes for the individual, but also society as a whole. My other interest is in decision-making at the health care system level. I aim to produce economic evidence that helps decision-makers allocate scarce health care resources in a manner that best serves the public’s interests..
Q: What has been the proudest moment of your career thus far?
A: I would have to say that winning the Lee Lusted Award at the Society for Medical Decision Making conference in Baltimore last year was my proudest moment so far. This conference brings together some of the best minds researching medical decision making, so it was very rewarding to have my work recognized.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: As someone just entering my PhD, I have been told repeatedly that I there will be a point when I am fed up with it! I think this has been important as a means of preparing me for this day, as I hope knowing it’s coming will temper the frustration when I get there.
Q: What makes you laugh?
A: I am fortunate enough to live with my brother AND get along with him. He is able to keep me relaxed and put things in perspective. It’s also great to have a built in audience to practice presentations on at home, though he often takes that opportunity to ask the tough questions.
Q: How do you like to spend your non-working hours?
A: Most non-working hours are spent relaxing at home, playing guitar or watching sports. I was able to join a rec hockey team at UBC this year, so I am excited to get out and play again after many years off.
Q: What would you do if you weren’t a researcher?
A: I have always enjoyed school, so I am sure I would have found a way to be a professional student in some capacity. If not, I am intrigued by the analytics movement in sports – combining stats with hockey sounds like fun to me.
