Hugh O'Sullivan

Class of 2026-2027

Holy Cross College
Mathematics

Capstone Project Abstract

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit think tank whose Future of Aging program leads the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, a coalition of more than 150 organizations changing how dementia care is delivered and paid for. Blood tests can now detect Alzheimer’s years earlier, and the first drugs to slow it have been approved, which makes what happens after a diagnosis matter far more than it used to. Comprehensive dementia care programs are what should happen next, and few health systems have built them. They are expensive to staff, there is little to bill for, and the savings they create go to insurers rather than the hospital paying for them. This capstone project investigates whether health systems and payers will fund these programs anyway, and what behavioral evidence shows real willingness rather than stated interest. The student will conduct up to 50 stakeholder interviews, which will set the priorities for a second version of the Alliance’s dementia care financial model and a co-authored Milken Institute report.

Why did you choose ESTEEM?

I came to ESTEEM to learn how to turn a technical background into something that can help people. I wanted to learn from people who have built their own companies. My own experiences as a patient showed me how wide the gap can be between what someone needs and what exists. Holy Cross is where I grew as a scholar and an athlete, and ESTEEM felt like the natural next step in the tri-campus community.

What do you hope to do after ESTEEM?

After ESTEEM I want to work on a startup, ideally in tech. This year I want to absorb as much as I can: how a market actually works and who pays for what. I am inspired by those around me, and I am excited to put my learnings to use quickly. I want to have a lasting impact on the world!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am a competitive person, so most of my free time involves competing at something. I played tennis at Holy Cross, and I will continue to play at a high level as much as possible. I am also a big football fan. I block off my Saturday mornings to watch Sheffield United and Hashtag United. Also a massive fan of Irish football!