Work
Selected projects in implementation research, digital health, and program design. Presented as research briefs, not marketing.
WINGS Implementation Research Project
Case 01 · Maternal and Infant NutritionContext
Maternal and infant nutrition interventions have strong evidence at the efficacy level, but their impact in real-world settings depends on how they are implemented. The WINGS project was designed to understand and strengthen the delivery of nutrition interventions within existing maternal and child health systems, with a focus on growth monitoring, counseling, and referral.
Challenge
Implementation gaps were undermining the potential of evidence‑based nutrition protocols. Counseling was inconsistent, growth monitoring was not always linked to action, and coordination across stakeholders was uneven. The research needed to map these gaps without imposing an external frame, describe the system as it actually operated, and identify points where support could improve fidelity and reach.
Approach
I contributed to a mixed‑methods implementation research design: qualitative field work with frontline workers and supervisors, review of program data and documentation, and engagement with stakeholders at facility and district levels. Growth monitoring was treated as an implementation outcome, not only in terms of whether it happened, but how, for whom, and with what follow‑through. Implementation science frameworks guided data collection and analysis around constructs such as acceptability, feasibility, and adaptation.
Impact
The work produced a grounded picture of where implementation broke down and why. Findings informed recommendations for training, supervision, and data use, with emphasis on changes that could be integrated into existing systems rather than layered on as new projects. The approach emphasized stakeholder ownership so that improvements could be sustained beyond the research timeline.
Reflection
Implementation research in maternal and child health requires patience and humility. The space between protocol and practice is where much of the learning happens. This project reinforced the value of listening to frontline implementers and designing studies that generate insight that can be acted on, not only written up.
Field notes
- Growth charts were meaningful only when paired with dialogue that mothers trusted.
- Small workflow changes in weighing and recording had outsized effects on follow‑up.
- Supervisory visits worked best when framed as shared problem‑solving, not inspection.
Parenxly Parenting Readiness Platform
Case 02 · Digital Parenting ReadinessContext
Transition to parenthood is a critical period for family well‑being. Parenxly was conceived as a digital platform to support prospective and new parents through evidence‑based content, structured assessment, and personalized pathways. The aim was to combine psychometric rigor with accessible design, building a readiness and support tool grounded in behavioral science rather than generic advice.
Challenge
The core design problem was to build a multimodal assessment framework that could capture readiness across emotional, practical, and relational domains without feeling like a clinical exam. The platform needed to integrate psychometric instruments with behavioral modeling and content that was both evidence‑based and engaging. A further challenge was defining improvement metrics that reflected meaningful change for users while remaining feasible to measure in a digital context.
Approach
I contributed to the design of the assessment framework and the integration of evidence‑based content with user pathways. The work involved reviewing psychometric tools for validity and fit, mapping behavioral constructs to content and recommendations, and supporting the design of digital flows that could adapt to user inputs without relying on heavy customization. Where appropriate, we explored how data‑informed and algorithmic approaches could support personalization while keeping human judgment and ethical boundaries at the center of the design.
Impact
The platform structure allowed for structured assessment, feedback, and content delivery aligned to user needs. Improvement metrics were defined to track engagement, completion, and self‑reported outcomes. The project demonstrated that parenting readiness could be addressed through a rigorous yet accessible digital product, with clear links between assessment, content, and intended behavior change.
Reflection
Digital health products can extend reach and personalization, but only when they are grounded in evidence and ethics. Parenxly was an opportunity to work at the intersection of psychometrics, behavioral design, user experience, and responsible use of data, and to insist that digital does not mean lowering the bar for rigor or responsibility.
Field notes
- Short, scenario‑based questions produced better signal than long batteries.
- Parents valued honest reflections on uncertainty as much as concrete tips.
- Algorithmic suggestions needed clear boundaries to keep trust and comprehension.
National Viral Hepatitis Control Initiative
Case 03 · Surveillance and Program DesignContext
Viral hepatitis represents a significant burden in many populations, with screening, linkage to care, and treatment scale‑up depending on strong program design and surveillance. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Initiative aimed to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, high‑risk screening, behavior change communication, and program monitoring so that policy and delivery could be informed by reliable data.
Challenge
Program performance was difficult to assess because data capture was fragmented and often paper‑based. Screening coverage, referral completion, and treatment initiation were not consistently tracked, which limited the ability to identify bottlenecks and improve targeting and follow‑up. Behavior change communication also needed to be aligned with epidemiological priorities and with the realities of populations at higher risk.
Approach
I contributed to efforts to improve digital data capture and program monitoring. This included supporting the design of data flows from facility to district and national levels so that key indicators could be tracked in near real time. I also contributed to the development of behavior change communication materials and strategies that were grounded in epidemiological evidence and in an understanding of high‑risk populations and care pathways.
Impact
Improvements in data capture and monitoring allowed program managers to see where screening and referral were succeeding or failing and to adjust outreach and support accordingly. Behavior change communication was better aligned with program goals and with the needs of the audiences it was meant to reach. The work underscored the importance of data quality and data use for program improvement, not only for reporting.
Reflection
Large‑scale public health programs depend on systems of surveillance, data, communication, and delivery. Strengthening one dimension without the others yields limited gains. This initiative reinforced the value of integrated design and of building monitoring and feedback loops that program staff can actually use.
Field notes
- Data entry burden was reduced most effectively by changing forms, not only tools.
- Program staff trusted dashboards more when they helped answer questions they already had.
- Community outreach patterns often revealed where surveillance systems were thin.