Rochelle Sun

PhD Candidate in Political Science

GHESKIO Centers, Port-au-Prince

BIO

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University, where I also hold affiliations with the Center for American Politics, the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. My research evaluates the role of healthcare provision in diplomatic relations, governance, and conflict. Additionally, I support research on optimizing HIV care services in settings of conflict and instability through my work with the GHESKIO centers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Prior to my graduate studies, I worked as a health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) analyst specializing in cost-effectiveness modeling and indirect treatment comparisons. I have also had the opportunity to support research at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. I received my bachelor's in Political Science and Health Policy from the University of Rochester. I am a member of the Board+ for the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and the Hatian Global Health Alliance (HGHA).

CV

You can view a copy of my CV here (last updated March 4, 2025).

RESEARCH

My dissertation project analyzes the role of healthcare as a strategic resource in conflict and development. One of my projects aims to identify the conditions under which combatants target healthcare resources with violence, particularly when such resources provide value for members or supporters of the perpetrating group. A second project attempts to evaluate the long-term political and economic impacts of partisan shocks to foreign aid delivery in recipient countries. By integrating insights from political economy, conflict studies, and global health, my research agenda hopes to delineate the pathways through which healthcare provision shapes politics and power dynamics, particularly in low-resource settings.

Highlights of my HEOR experience include cost-effectiveness analyses of anti-obesity medications and population modeling to estimate the impact of novel cell therapies on reducing racial disparities among patients indicated for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Other projects include matching-adjusted indirect treatment comparisons, network meta-analyses, patient surveys, and physician chart reviews.

Through my partnerships with global health non-profits, I have also had the opportunity to work on data analysis for NIH-funded clinical trials on HIV and tuberculosis research in Haiti, impact modeling for large-scale COVID-19 contact tracing programs in Massachusetts, and program development and evaluation to improve global health service provision.

PUBLICATIONS

Continuity of Care During Severe Civil Unrest with a Model of Community-Based HIV Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Haiti

Joseph, P; Sun, R; Guiteau, C; Jean Juste, MA; Dorvil, N; Vilbrun, SC; Secours, R; Severe, K; Raymond, P; Cecoute, F; Jean Baptiste, W; Forrestale, GP; Cadet, S; Marcelin, A; Deschamps, MM; Dua, A; Cheung, HC; Pape, JW; Koenig, SP

Lancet Regional Health – Americas 2024; 37. Lead Analyst.

Projected Impact of Omidubicel-onlv on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (Allo-HCT) Outcomes in Hematologic Malignancies

Khera, N; Edwards, ML; Song, Y; Sun, R; Manghani, R; Shin, H; Simantov, R; Signorovitch, J; Sivaraman, S; Gergis, U

Advances in Therapy 2024; 41: 1637–1651. Lead Analyst.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Semaglutide 2.4 mg for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Overweight and Obesity in the United States

Kim, N; Wang, J; Burudpakdee, C; Song, Y; Ramasamy, A; Xie, Y; Sun, R; Kumar, N; Wu, EQ; Sullivan, SD

Journal of Managed Care and Pharmacy 2022; 28(7): 740–752. Lead Analyst.

Real-World Effectiveness of Fremanezumab in Migraine Patients Initiating Treatment in the United States: Results from a Retrospective Chart Study

Driessen, MT; Cohen, JM; Patterson-Lomba, O; Thompson, SF; Seminerio, M; Carr, K; Totev, TI; Sun, R; Yim, E; Mu, F; Ayyagari, R

Journal of Headache and Pain 2022; 23(1): 47. Lead Analyst.

Real-world Effectiveness After Initiating Fremanezumab Treatment in US Patients With Episodic and Chronic Migraine or Difficult-to-Treat Migraine

Driessen, MT; Cohen, JM; Thompson, SF; Patterson-Lomba, O; Seminerio, MJ; Carr, K; Totev, TI; Sun, R; Yim, E; Mu, F; Ayyagari, R

Journal of Headache and Pain 2022; 23(1): 56. Lead Analyst.

Upadacitinib compared with Adalimumab in the Treatment of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Conaghan, P; Cohen, S; Burmester, G; Mysler, E; Nash, P; Tanaka, Y; Rigby, W; Patel, J; Shaw, T; Betts, KA; Patel, P; Liu, J; Sun, R; Fleischmann, R

Rheumatology and Therapy 2022; 9(1): 191–206. Lead Analyst.

Superior Outcomes With Continuing Tenofovir Versus Switching to Zidovudine in Second-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Haiti

Pierre, S; Bocharova, I; Nguyen, C; Homeus, F; Julmiste, G; Macius, Y; Rouzier, V; Severe, P; Deschamps, MM; Guiteau, C; Bellot, C; Wu, J; Rivera, V; Sun, R; Pape, JW; Liautaud, BL; Koenig, SP

Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2021; 8(12): 559.

MENTORSHIP

As a first-generation American, my path was shaped by many individuals who went out of their way to offer me support and guidance over the years. I am committed to building more bridges for other young researchers from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Please reach out over email if I can be of support.

AFFILIATIONS

I work closely with the following organizations. Click on their logos to learn more and support their missions.

ALIMA Logo

ALIMA | The Alliance for International Medical Action

ALIMA is a medical humanitarian aid organization providing emergency medical care and conducting healthcare research in Central and West Africa. ALIMA is built upon partnerships with local organizations to foster sustainable, community-led, and context-aware care.

GHESKIO Logo

GHESKIO | The Haitian Study Group on Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections

GHESKIO is a Haitian medical clinic and research center specializing in treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB, and other infectious and chronic diseases. The clinic has continued to provide care, free of charge, to over 12,000 patients annually in spite of catastrophic natural disasters and nationwide political turmoil.