Eva Sachar: Data Scientist, Unite Us
What does your work look like, and what have you been working on lately?
As a data scientist at Unite Us, I work on analytics products to further our mission of advancing health equity. I work closely with DEI and community focused teams to better understand the communities we serve, and the health and social care landscape as a whole. My analytics work involves quantifying social determinants of health, identifying the social needs of individuals and communities, and evaluating the impact of social service interventions. A recent project I worked on is the Community Needs Map, which visualizes social care needs within a community relative to other geographic regions. We analyzed key social risk factors and produced a set of indices which describe needs related to socioeconomic status, rural vulnerability, and social isolation. These indices were then visualized on a map shared with our partners. This analytics product helps our partners develop targeted intervention strategies to improve community health outcomes.
How has your career path unfolded?
When I was looking for my first job, I knew I wanted to apply data science to improve social and public policy outcomes. That led me to Deloitte’s federal consulting practice, where I worked with the State Department as a data scientist. In my role I was responsible for implementing statistical models, explaining them to non-technical audiences, and working with policy experts to identify insights. When I was looking to change jobs, I again focused on applying to data science roles at mission-driven companies, and was very excited to join Unite Us and use analytics to drive improvements to social care. I just started graduate school, where I want to learn more about AI Ethics so that I can better apply this sector-specific academic research to the corporate setting.
How did you get into the field of Public Interest Technology (PIT)?
I started out seeking a career that would allow me to apply math to data and problems that have real world impact and benefit others. The role of a data scientist is very interdisciplinary and has allowed me to learn about the context of health and policy to which I apply machine learning. Data science introduced me to AI Ethics, and that accelerated my awareness of and collaboration with others in the Public Interest Technology community. Outside of work, I’ve been involved with LA Tech 4 Good and All Tech Is Human, focusing on Data Equity, AI Ethics, and diversifying the tech workforce. I’m really enjoying how dynamic PIT is and how passionate we all are in this community. Looking forward, I see a lot of opportunity for impact in developing AI that is both ethical and equitable so that it better serves society. I am excited to continue working in PIT!
If students are interested in pursuing a career in PIT, where might they start?
I genuinely believe that you can and should start in an area that you are passionate about. Our interests are always changing and tech evolves so quickly; I don’t know that it’s possible to map out a perfect career path from the get-go. Be willing to learn, be flexible in changing your goals, talk to folks who offer a diverse perspective, and do work you’re proud of.