Research Associate Erika Decklar shares what she’s working on at ICH right now, the experience that prepared her for this role, and how she likes to spend her downtime. Read on to learn more!

How would you describe your role at ICH?

As a Research Associate at ICH, I support my projects in drafting data collection and analysis tools, collecting and analyzing data, and drafting reports and presentations to share our findings with our partners and the larger community. I also support a few technical assistance projects guiding our organizational partners in sustaining their work into the future. Every project and every day is different for me, which is one of my favorite parts about working at ICH!

What is your educational background?

I’m a double Terrier! I completed my Bachelor of Science at Boston University in 2022, majoring in Behavior & Health within Sargent College. I discovered my passion for public health in a “Sociology of Health Care” course my sophomore year, which inspired me to formally pursue public health in my educational goals. In my junior year at BU, I applied for the 4+1 BS/MPH program, which allowed me to start taking classes towards my MPH at BU’s School of Public Health beginning in my senior year. 

After graduating in 2022, I made the decision to enroll part-time at BUSPH so I could work full-time to finance my degree. I officially graduated with my MPH in August 2024, with certificates in both Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Health Policy & Law.

What was your career path before coming to ICH?

Throughout my undergraduate and part of my graduate studies, I worked as a tutor at Urban College of Boston, where I worked with adult multilingual learners to support navigating course topics and coursework. I also administered, supervised, and assessed English Placement exams to place students in appropriate English courses.

Beginning in July 2022, while pursuing my MPH, I worked full-time with the College Advising Corps at Boston University (now called PATH: Planning & Advising for Transitions to Higher Education). This program places recent college graduates in Boston-area high schools to serve as near-peer AmeriCorps college and career advisers. I served as a college and career adviser for two years at Charlestown High School, where I helped students learn about and apply to college, career pathways, and financial aid opportunities. I completed my two years of service with AmeriCorps in July 2024.

In May 2024, I had an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) with Cambridge Health Alliance’s Health Improvement Team, where I supported the development of and launch of their Community Health Needs Assessment. I analyzed secondary data sets, created data visualizations, ran and analyzed Spanish-speaking focus groups, and synthesized findings to share with the Community Health Advisory Council. My practicum ended in August, and I was hired by ICH shortly after!

During my time at BU, I also volunteered as a Peer Health Educator through Peer Health Exchange to provide comprehensive and inclusive health education to high school students in the Boston area. I also volunteered as a Research Assistant for a global research project during this time, investigating government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What made you decide to come to ICH?

What drew me in the most to ICH was the ability to explore and work on projects across so many different approaches to public health. I’ve felt so passionate about so many different areas of public health which made it feel impossible to pick “just one” area to focus on in my career. My primary areas of interest were immigrant health and substance use—both of which ICH specializes in. I was also drawn in by ICH’s commitment to turning data into meaningful insights to inform strategic decisions and policies. 

What are some projects that you are working on right now?

One project I’m working on right now is an evaluation of a mobile-access model to increase access to methadone across the Commonwealth. There are a few mobile Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) units operating in MA, and it’s been interesting to see how this model is impacting both providers and patients by analyzing both EMR and qualitative data. 

Another project I’m working on is an evaluation of a college success program, which supports students in persisting through college. We look at education records to assess performance, persistence, and progress to a degree. 

I’m also supporting numerous technical assistance (TA) projects through the Leah Zallman Center, which are all focused on improving the health and well-being of immigrant communities in Boston. 

The last project that comes to mind is the Community Action Hub, a research partnership between community researchers with lived experience-based expertise of homelessness, ICH, and United Way. We just brought on four new community researchers to the group and are now in the final stages of co-designing our first research project.

What are your favorite projects topics and why?

The project topics that most interest me center around substance use disorders (SUD) and  immigrant health because of the close personal connection to these topics that draws me in deeply to the work. I also love projects that focus on education equity, because they connect to my background in the education field and my continued passion for increasing education equity. 

What are your hobbies or things you like to do for fun?

My favorite way to both connect with others and decompress is through food. One of my favorite things to do with the people I love is trying new eateries. I also really enjoy trying to make new things in the kitchen, both savory and sweet! I recently made jalapeno cheddar pretzels from scratch which was really fun and delicious. 

As a former competitive figure skater, I still love the ice! Though I don’t skate much anymore, I still love watching figure skating competitions. I was lucky enough to see the World Championships last year in Boston! 

I also love puzzles (of all kinds!) and reading—especially literary fiction and memoirs.

Do you have any plans for the spring? Anything that you are looking forward to?

Spring is my favorite season because the days only get longer and warmer! Plus it means that New England summer is right around the corner. If I had to pick, I’d say I’m most looking forward to Daylight Savings Time beginning and outdoor dining.