Alumni Update - Alicia Keen LaFrance, MSW, MPH (May '15)

Alicia Keen LaFrance, MSW, MPH

Alicia Keen LaFrance, MSW, MPH (May '15) has accepted a position as Analyst II at the University of California-San Francisco Institute for Health Policy Studies. Ms. LaFrance will be involved in analytic, reporting, and dissemination activities on a variety of projects regarding health insurance benefits and the health care workforce. More specifically, activities will include investigating public health impacts of proposed health policy as requested from the California State Legislature, contributing to policy recommendations, participating in data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development of new projects.

Ms. LaFrance notes that "While the skills for this position primarily draw from an MPH skill set, having an MSW is an added advantage. Institute Interviewers were very interested in my ability to build rapport and interview potential study participants, as well as what I could contribute to mental health-focused studies and policies which corresponds with skills developed as a social worker. During interviews, I discussed techniques I have used in therapeutic settings in stressful situations to build rapport, create an alliance, and simultaneously gather needed agency information (read: my MSW internship in oncology unit). As a social worker, I also bring a strong knowledge of the complexity and psychosocial issues that need to be considered when developing healthcare interventions and policies."

Congratulations Ms. LaFrance on this great opportunity!

To learn more about Ms. LaFrance, visit her LinkedIn profile.