Senior Honored at Economics Conference
Julie Sullivan ’15 won the best student paper award at the New York State Economics Association Conference held at Siena this month. She is the first Saint to earn this accolade during the ten-year competition which this year featured submissions from Williams, Colgate, Barnard and other prestigious colleges and universities.
“I was really surprised and honored,” Sullivan said. “It was nice to see the hours I put into the research over the summer months really paid off.”
Sullivan, an economics major and health services administration minor, was commended for her work in analyzing the link between physician coverage and patient outcomes in New York State.
Her paper, titled "Doctor Deficiency: Disparities in Physician Availability in the Baby Business and Birth Outcomes in New York State," was the fruit of her labors as a Siena Summer Scholar funded by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. James Booker, Ph.D., professor of economics, served as her mentor for the project.
“I met with Dr. Booker at least once a week and really enjoyed the independence I was given,” Sullivan said. “He provided me with the guidance needed and allowed me to problem solve along the way. It was a great experience.”
Sullivan plans to continue her research next semester with an independent study in hopes that it will give her a competitive edge as she enters the job market. Based on her recent success, her employment prospects look very promising.
