On Thursday, May 3, 2018, I defended my doctoral dissertation research in The Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute at the University of Washington and became a doctor.
Introducing the context for my research during the one-hour lecture.My generous mother, Lisa McLoughlin, prepared a delicious spread of food that was enjoyed before and after the talk. The menu included beet tartare on endive leaves, hard and soft cheeses, grand central bakery baguettes, roasted almond date spread, prosciutto, salami, olives, vegetable cups with green goddess dressing, grapes, strawberries, spindrift sparkling waters, fresh kettle corn, cream puffs, truffles, and homemade nordie bars.
Mathematical Models
This schematic represents the deterministic dynamic compartmental model. The boxes represent disease-stage compartments of men who have sex with men and the arrows represent transitions between compartments. Individuals enter into the unvaccinated population and may die or exit the population at various disease stages. Not represented in the diagram is stratification by age group (15-24, 24-44, and 45-64 years), risk group (low and high), and sexual role (anal insertive, receptive, or versatile). S, susceptible; SP, susceptible using PrEP; SPV, susceptible using PrEP and partial protection with HIV vaccine; SV, susceptible with partial protection from HIV vaccine; I, infected and unaware; D, diagnosed; E, engaged in care but not using ART; U, engaged in care and using ART but not yet virally suppressed; T, engaged in care and virally suppressed on ART.
Interrogation
Responding to difficult questions from committee members during the private interrogation period.
The priviledge to ask and answer my own scientific questions was only possible because of the dedicated professors and mentors who gifted me with hours, sweat, code, advice, dark chocolate, homework, corrections, inspiration, and affirmation. I will be forever grateful.
Dissertation Committee members (left to right): Jim Kublin, Josh Carlson, Lou Garrison, me, Ruanne Barnabas, and Dobromir Dimitrov.
Celebration
I celebrated later that evening with a massive delivery of Chinese food from Snappy Dragon that was enjoyed with a glass of Veuve Clicquot while lounging on my living room floor and surrounded by my closest friends and our dozen children.
Beautiful view from the room where I defended my dissertation in the WRF Data Science Studio on the top floor of the Physics and Astronomy building at the University of Washington.Graduation portrait credit to Rahil Jain, PhD.
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