Sarah Vaselenak

About me

I was born/grew up in: Born in Calgary, Alberta. Grew up in Caledon, Ontario.

I now live in: Mississauga, Ontario

I completed my training/education at:  BSc in Science and Business at the University of Waterloo, MSc in Health Economics from the University of Toronto

What I do at work

As a Health Economist, I use math and economics to figure out how valuable a medicine is to the Canadian population. I compare all the benefits of a medication with its costs. My work helps determine whether Canadians will be able to access a new medicine or not.

Every day is different! I spend 50% of my time working in Microsoft Excel. I build economic models and run analyses. I usually do this alone at my desk in the company office. But, I often end up taking breaks to grab coffee or lunch with my colleagues! I get to experiment with different mathematical methods. I do a lot of problem solving to make sure the models work the way they are supposed to. I work with some really smart people! They are always open to helping me think through a problem or double check my approach.

I spend about a third of my time in meetings with my colleagues. We might discuss the pros and cons of a drug. Then I use that information to turn these into values that can be used in mathematical models. For example, if a drug extends the life of patients with a certain disease, I can make a model in Excel which estimates how long patients of that disease will live with, and without this drug. Collaboration and teamwork are important skills for me to have in my role!

I spend the rest of my time meeting with people involved with the healthcare industry. This includes doctors, patients, politicians, and academics. I travel a lot for work. I get to meet other people who are passionate about improving the lives of Canadian patients!

My career path is

I stumbled into my career by slowly narrowing down what I wanted to do, over time. When I graduated from high school, I couldn’t decide if I liked science or business more. So, I decided to explore both! I went to the University of Waterloo for a Bachelor of Science in Science and Business. This is a degree that provides you with technical science knowledge and introduces you to different areas of business. These included marketing, entrepreneurship, economics, human resources, and accounting.

As part of my degree, I completed four co-op work terms. These helped me gain valuable hands-on skills in different workplaces, and test out different industries. When I graduated, I started working at a market research company called Ipsos, in their health and pharmaceutical division. At Ipsos I learned a lot about how the Canadian health system works, and what career options were out there.

After working at Ipsos for five years, I started becoming interested in what is called “market access”. This is the process a new drug goes through to get approved for sale in Canada. It also determines whether different insurance companies will pay for it.  I decided to enroll in a part-time Master of Science degree in Health Economics at the University of Toronto. It was a lot of work to study and work full time. But when I graduated I was able to start work immediately as a health economist at a pharmaceutical company. I’ve never looked back!

I am motivated by

I really enjoy being able to apply my technical knowledge in economics and mathematics, in a way that helps better the lives of Canadian patients. My role is a good mix between independent work and collaboration. I get to make decisions and feel like I’m making an impact. This is a great career option for someone who likes science subjects like biology and medicine, but doesn’t see themselves working in a lab or becoming a health professional, like a doctor or nurse.

How I affect peoples’ lives

My analyses are often used by decision makers in the Canadian healthcare system. Most often this will be doctors and politicians. My work helps them decide whether a new drug is valuable enough to be offered to Canadian patients. For this reason, I take great pride in my work. I know that I could help bring Canadian patients new, better options for managing disease and sickness. Without health economists, we wouldn’t know whether the benefits of a new drug justify the costs!

Outside of work I

I am an avid horseback rider! I have been riding since I was a kid. I have a horse of my own, who I get to see four or five times per week. The work-life balance at my workplace is great. The office is located centrally in Mississauga. This means I can live and enjoy my free time in a good selection of cities.

My advice to others

Here are my top tips for anyone interested in exploring a career in health economics. 1) What’s cool about this job is that it’s a blend of both science and business. Take the time in your undergraduate degree to take some courses in both areas, ideally biochemistry and economics, so you have experience and you can apply that knowledge in the workplace. 2) Think critically about where you see yourself working. At a hospital or health centre, or at a desk? At a for-profit company, or with the government or a non-profit organization? Health economists work in a variety of settings. These include pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, consultancy firms, and academia. Different settings might have different job requirements, so research which setting fits you best!