Emma Mairson, MPH, didn’t set out to work in reproductive health. But one summer afternoon, Mairson, then a sophomore biology major, picked up a book from a library display—"The Birth of the Pill”—and began to see how her passions could come together.
I tore through it in two days, recalls Mairson, now a data scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) at Pitt Public Health. “It crystallized something for me. With a biology major and anthropology minor, I felt like I was in two separate worlds. But reading that book helped me see that public health—and specifically reproductive health—sits right at the intersection.”
That realization led Mairson to a research assistant position at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital after graduation from Kenyon College in rural Ohio, then to University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill for a master’s in public health, and eventually back to Pittsburgh. Today, she works with faculty mentor Marian Jarlenski, PhD, HPM professor and vice chair for practice, on maternal health and Medicaid research that’s both deeply analytical and deeply personal.
“My heart has always been in contraception,” she says. “But really, it all comes back to supporting people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies—and making sure they’re medically, emotionally and materially supported in those decisions.”
Her work spans several projects, including Project DREAM (Doula Research for Equitable Advances in Medicaid Pregnancy Health), a multi-state study of Medicaid coverage for doulas. Pennsylvania is one of six states included in the study, and Mairson is helping analyze variations in implementation and resulting possible effects on maternal health outcomes.
“Having someone by your side who understands the system, who helps you feel in control—that kind of support can make a real difference,” she says. “And doulas are often there not just during birth, but through pregnancy and postpartum too, which can be a challenging time.”
The team is also studying how doulas might help reduce severe maternal morbidity. While Mairson doesn’t work directly with policymakers, she and her colleagues are focused on identifying the outcomes that matter most—both to systems and to the people they serve.
Mairson’s role blends data analysis, conducting policy scans, manuscript writing, grant support and conference presentations. “No two days are the same, and that’s part of what I love. Every project presents new questions to solve,” she says.
“There’s so much opportunity here. I feel empowered to grow, take ownership of projects and contribute in ways that match my strengths.”
Mairson credits the culture of the team—with Jarlenski, fellow staff and students—for encouraging professional development and collaboration. “We do a lot of peer mentorship,” she says. “It’s not just learning from people above you—it’s sharing tools, ideas and opportunities with each other.”
Mairson is also involved with the EMBRACE Center—led by Epidemiology’s Dara Méndez, PhD, along with the School of Medicine’s Mehret Birru Talabi, MD, PhD, and Hyagriv Simhan, MD—and values the cross-campus connections she’s built through projects and partnerships. “There’s an incredible network in Pennsylvania doing this work,” she says.
Looking ahead, she’s thinking about adding more tools to her skillset—and maybe returning to school someday. But for now, she’s grateful to be in a role where her passions and skills converge.
“I get to do really important work—and I get to do it with people I admire and who empower me,” she says. “There are always more opportunities in front of me, which is a great feeling.”
-Clare Collins