Geriatrics, one of 10 sections in the Yale Department of Internal Medicine, strives to improve the health of older adults by providing exceptional patient care, training future leaders and innovators in aging, and engaging in cutting-edge research. To learn more, visit Geriatrics.
Q+A
Meet John O’Leary, Project Manager, Geriatrics
Meet John O’Leary, who has enjoyed working with many interesting and intelligent colleagues during his 35-year career at Yale. He will be retiring on February 1, 2026.
Tell us about your role in the Department of Internal Medicine.
As a data analyst in the Program on Aging within the Section of Geriatrics, I support a variety of medical research projects within Yale and in collaboration with VA Healthcare in West Haven. While my specialty has been SAS and SQL programming, I have been afforded the opportunity to assist talented doctors and statisticians on smaller research teams, with the intention of better understanding the issues affecting older adults. Projects that I have contributed to have led to advances in the areas of fall prevention, end-of-life decision-making, dementia support, home care, and social isolation, to name a few.
Why did you decide to work at Yale School of Medicine?
I was making a career change, working on a master’s in counseling and looking for entry-level work in the mental health field. My first job was at the Connecticut Mental Health Center on an inpatient psychiatric unit supported by a Yale research grant. It was an amazing experience, but in time, circumstances led me back to computer programming in the Section of Geriatrics. I stayed in Geriatrics because of the professional learning opportunities, interesting and intelligent colleagues, work-life balance, and the excellent Yale benefits.
What do you enjoy about working at Yale?
As a member of various research studies, I have especially enjoyed the teamwork and collaboration, as well as the interesting nature of the research, which is frequently applicable to issues affecting aging members of my family. There is always something new to learn, and much of what I learn seems to be relevant to the issues I encounter in my personal life. During my 35-year career at Yale, I have been blessed to work with so many wonderful people.
What is your favorite pastime?
Tennis used to be my favorite hobby, but now I spend a fair amount of time playing pickleball. So glad this “sport” has taken off. It is very social, and I continue to meet many wonderful people just like I have at Yale.
What is some advice that you will never forget?
Stay flexible and continue to learn new technical skills. Also, try your best to save at least 10% of your salary for retirement and make sure you are contributing enough in the 403B plan to get the full Yale generous match.