Winter 2008

Alumna Profile - Sarah K. England, PhD '93

“There were definite connections between my expertise in my academic career and the legislative experience I gathered.”

Through a unique fellowship, Sarah K. England, PhD ’93, learned the leap between her laboratory and the Legislative branch of government is not as far as one might think. She also discovered an affinity for health policy that complements her research and academic aspirations.

Dr. England is Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Her research focuses on what triggers labor in pregnant women. She examines how paths through uterine smooth muscle membrane (ion channels) are regulated to allow potassium ions through. The exit of potassium causes the uterus to relax.

“My goal is to identify how we can change potassium channel activity to regulate when the uterus contracts,” she said. “Hopefully, this will lead to a treatment for diseases during pregnancy, including pre-term labor.”

The investigation of potassium channels in smooth muscle has grown since Dr. England first pursued it in graduate school in the laboratory of Dr. Nancy Rusch, who was in the Medical College’s Department of Physiology. At that time, Dr. England’s work focused on vascular smooth muscle in hypertensive states.  She has continued to study potassium channels throughout her career but today concentrates her efforts in uterine smooth muscle. Her broadening interests are opening doors to help people at the societal, in addition to the the molecular, level.

Dr. England directs an undergraduate science program at University of Iowa for underrepresented minorities, with the goal of increasing the number of minorities who pursue PhDs. While these students are likely to pursue interests in health disparities, she said, many of them do not know what health disparities are. This realization attracted Dr. England to how health policies affect education policies.

Sarah K. England, PhD ’93, works in her laboratory with Stephanie Pierce, a molecular physiology and biophysics graduate student. Dr. England, Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, researches how labor is triggered in pregnant women. She recently completed a health policy fellowship during which she drafted legislation in Washington, D.C.

When she learned of the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowships Program, Dr. England saw an opportunity to influence real change in this area. The fellowship program allows mid-career health professionals to gain understanding of the health policy process, contribute to the creation of new policies and programs and develop as leaders in academic health centers and in health policy.

Accepted as a fellow, Dr. England left her lab behind to move to Washington, D.C., in September 2005 for a four-month orientation. She was interviewed by Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate for positions on Capitol Hill. She eventually accepted an offer to work in the office of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, which she began in January 2006.

For a year, Dr. England dedicated herself to drafting legislation, developing health initiatives, meeting with constituent groups, writing scholarly articles and arranging briefings. Although she had to change her mindset as a specialist working on intricate details in scientific research to a generalist, juggling dozens of far-reaching health care and socio-economic issues, she recognized distinct connections between the two endeavors.

“I worked on legislation that was very closely related to my research interests in maternal/child health,” she said. “I drafted two pieces of legislation related to this that dealt with newborn screening and gestational diabetes. I also worked extensively on a health disparities bill. There were definite connections between my expertise in my academic career and the legislative experience I gathered.”

The fellowship, which ended December 2006, exceeded Dr. England’s expectations, as she returned to her position at Carver College of Medicine with a better understanding of health policy, negotiations, consensus building and governmental process. As she looks to the future, she sees new ways in which she can contribute to medicine and her university.

“I still want to have a productive career in science, but this experience has broadened my perspective on my career goals,” Dr. England said. “I would be willing to pursue academic administration if I were able to still have my laboratory. I now have a 20 percent position as a Special Assistant to the Vice President for Medical Affairs at my university and advise him on new legislation that is enacted and how this can dovetail into the interests of the university.”