Karen's research area focuses on decision making under uncertainty with a concentration in decision making in healthcare and humanitarian logistics. Her current research project is in the area of medical decision making where she develops decision models to evaluate the most appropriate delivery method for expectant mothers considering the health of both the mother and child. This work explores the optimal policy of when to proceed with the vaginal delivery or when to stop the trial of labor in case a cesarean section is needed. The mode of delivery decision incorporates the preferences of both the patient and the provider. This stochastic multiple agent problem considers various short-term and long-term health outcomes involved with vaginal and cesarean delivery that are potentially experienced by the mother and child. It also takes into account the objectives of both decision makers.
