Q&A with Kat Tumlinson, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Management
What was your background before joining the faculty at Gillings?
I joined the Gillings faculty in 2017. However, I completed my doctoral training in epidemiology at Gillings and a postdoc at the Carolina Population Center – so I’ve been part of the Carolina community for 15 years now! Prior to coming to Gillings for my PhD, I worked for several organizations committed to promoting reproductive justice around the globe, including Planned Parenthood, Pathfinder International, and FHI 360. For a brief time in 2004 I aspired to be a travel writer – and even got short-listed at Lonely Planet – but, alas, it was not to be.
What drew you to the Gillings School of Global Public Health?
I was very familiar with Gillings when I applied for a faculty position, having completed my doctoral degree at Gillings. I left Carolina briefly in 2014, to take a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton. However, my husband (also a UNC Epi alum!) and I both missed UNC terribly. UNC Gillings is simply unparalleled in terms of the collegial, collaborative nature of our faculty, staff, and students. I was delighted when I had the opportunity to return to UNC. Additionally, many of my doctoral cohort still live and work in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. I love that UNC was a place that not only provided me with an exceptional education but also fostered a lifelong circle of friends. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
How has working as a family planning service advisor helped you with your research now?
Working as a family planning service provider for several years in North Central Florida deeply informs my research program. I provided family planning counseling to young people who wished to postpone or avoid a future pregnancy. It was part of my job to ensure these young people had complete information and felt safe in our clinical environment so that they could use contraception for as long as they wished. I was able to witness the myriad of barriers that come into play when seeking contraception. I apply these lessons regularly when partnering with my in-country colleagues in the Global South.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on three primary projects.
The first project evaluates social accountability interventions in the Kenyan context. Social accountability interventions are designed to improve the performance of service providers via public monitoring to address deficiencies in service delivery. However, little is known about the true impact of social accountability on contraceptive autonomy. Preliminary results indicate our intervention led to positive outcomes related to women’s autonomy, agency, satisfaction, and community involvement. We’re excited to continue to delve into these data.
Additionally, I’m evaluating a drone delivery project in Madagascar. Drone delivery of medication represents one possible solution to frequent stockouts in public-sector healthcare facilities in the Global South. Yet, little evidence currently exists to indicate whether services are more accessible within facilities serviced by drones. This is the question we hope to answer; data collection is currently on-going.
Lastly, several colleagues and I have worked together on a series of manuscripts that investigate clinical barriers to removing contraceptive implants. Implant users in the Global South are often counseled against removal by healthcare providers in public sector facilities and many facilities lack the supplies necessary for method removal. We are working to bring these issues to light. Accessible implant removal services are critical to safeguard reproductive autonomy.
How do you like to spend a rainy day?
As the mom of three very active little boys, my days don’t look very different, rain or shine! My husband, Mehul, and I have been licensed foster parents in Orange County since 2019. We adopted our son, Lucca, in fall 2023. At the same time, we welcomed our current foster sons – twin boys who recently turned one. They bring us endless joy and a newfound appreciation for naptime.