Danica Dorlette
PhD ’25
I am passionate about leveraging real-world data to generate meaningful evidence that supports the development of safe therapies that are both effective and accessible to the patients who need them most.
Please tell us a bit about yourself; where are you from, and what do you like to do in your spare time?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, I spent a lot of time singing — there was certainly a time when I sang more than I spoke! I participated in many choirs and musical theatre programs, and was a vocal major at a performing arts high school. Although my path eventually led me to nursing, that creative energy has never left me. I’ve now worked as an oncology RN for the past 11 years and find joy in bringing creativity into how I care for others. In my spare time, I enjoy acrylic painting, arranging flowers, and taking long walks with my family.
Why did you decide to pursue nursing, and why did you choose Columbia?
I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care. When I was very young, I’d tag along with my mother, a home health aide, to spend time with her patients. From early on, I observed and fell in love with caregiving. In high school, my grandmother became ill, and I spent a lot of time with her in the hospital. Watching the nurses care for her with such skill and compassion deeply inspired me. There was a lot of confusion among my vocal teachers when I chose nursing over a music conservatory for college, but I would choose nursing over and over again.
I chose the PhD program at Columbia Nursing because it’s the ideal place to grow as a nurse, scholar, and member of society. I wanted to train at an institution that positions nurses as key stakeholders in advancing research, clinical excellence, and health equity. Columbia’s legacy of nursing scholarship is also unmatched, and I feel incredibly fortunate to learn from and be mentored by such visionary nurse leaders.
What are you passionate about, and how has being a student at Columbia Nursing allowed you to follow that passion?
I’m passionate about understanding how residential factors — such as housing stability, neighborhood conditions, and home environments — shape access to care and health care experiences for people with cancer. I believe that where a person lives shouldn’t determine how, when, or if they receive care. Being a student at Columbia Nursing has allowed me to explore these passions at the highest level. Columbia Nursing has given me the tools, mentorship, and academic freedom to rigorously explore these questions and develop research that aims to inform more equitable, patient-centered models of care.
Can you tell us a bit about your PhD research?
My PhD research explores how neighborhood socioeconomic status — a measure of area-level poverty, education, income, housing, and access to resources — shapes access to and outcomes in advanced cancer treatments, specifically cellular therapies. For the right candidate, these therapies can be life-saving, yet access is often constrained by social and structural disparities.
My dissertation considers how neighborhood socioeconomic environment influences cell therapy referral, receipt of care, and survival outcomes with the goal of informing tailored care solutions for patients with socioeconomic disadvantage.
Do you have a favorite memory of your time at Columbia Nursing?
It’s difficult to choose just one memory because my time has been made so special by the people I’ve met. Attending the ENRS conference is always special because we get to spend time with faculty, across cohorts, and take a dive into each other’s scholarly work. I always enjoy seeing how everyone’s program of research grows and develops. I’ll also miss Room 615 where so many of my classes were — I learned so much in that room.
What are your next steps after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to pursue clinical scientist roles in industry settings, with a focus on real-world evidence and access-related research. I am passionate about leveraging real-world data to generate meaningful evidence that supports the development of safe therapies that are both effective and accessible to the patients who need them most.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank my mentors Dr. Arlene Smaldone and Dr. Jingjing Shang. They have been strong pillars of support for me throughout this difficult but rewarding process. I am grateful for the time and effort they have put into mentoring me. I would also like to thank Dr. Maureen George, Ruben Flores and Ashley Fonville, and Dr. Jianfang Liu, who have each been instrumental in my journey.