Emily Ekl is a PhD candidate in sociology with interests in medical sociology, work and organizations, and social networks. Her dissertation draws on comparative ethnography across two medical organizations and over 90 in-depth interviews to understand how mid-status professionals navigate a healthcare system that was built to privilege doctors. Emily examines how the dual constraints of professional status and organizational regulations impact workers’ autonomy and the strategies of resistance these workers perform to ensure quality patient care.
Emily’s research has been recognized by the American Sociological Association, including a 2023 Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG), and has been published in Social Psychology Quarterly, Society & Mental Health, and Social Science & Medicine, among other outlets. Prior to coming to IU, Emily received her M.A. in sociology from Boston College and her B.A. in sociology and history from Purdue University.
Emily Ekl
Graduate Student
The College of Arts