07/27/2023

Member Spotlight

Taylor Hautala, MPH

Research Area Specialist, University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center (U-M IPC)

1. Tell us about your areas of interest within injury and violence prevention. Why did you decide to pursue a career in this field?

I have a background in child and adolescent health, so I am most passionate about injury prevention in youth. More specifically, overdose prevention and firearm injury prevention are focus areas that are especially interesting to me. 

I was drawn to this field because of its interdisciplinary nature. It’s really great to see so many folks with different backgrounds and perspectives come together to reduce injury and violence. I also appreciate the camaraderie and networking opportunities available to me in this field. 

2. How long have you been a member of SAVIR?  What was one thing you liked about the SAVIR 2023 conference?

I’ve been with the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center for over 2 years now, and have been a part of SAVIR for that same amount of time (though our center has been involved for much longer). The SAVIR 2023 conference was my first SAVIR conference. I really enjoyed learning about others’ work, meeting new people, seeing familiar faces in person for the first time, and supporting my colleagues. 

3. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?

The most rewarding aspect of my career in injury prevention has been working with students while coordinating our center’s internship and certificate programs. I really enjoy interacting with students, offering my mentorship, and helping to spark an interest in this field of work. 

4. What do you like to do in your free time? 

I like to bake, read, and spend time outdoors! My family has a place in the northern thumb area of Michigan (for non-Michiganders who might not know, we like to think of the state as a mitten, hence the “thumb”) where I spend a lot of time over the summer months kayaking, biking, and going on adventures with my dog, Chloe.