Empowering Clinicians with Technology to Solve Healthcare Problems
Less than 2 weeks ago, on June 14, 2023, I graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine's Biomedical Informatics Graduate Program on and also dropped CS103: Mathematical Foundations of Computing. The latter, as I had mentioned in my last article, would have been my first formal entry into the computer science (#CS) track and the first year of four (2023 - 2027) if I continued with my MS in CS plan I had previously shared in this Google spreadsheet.
Well, I guess that's life.
I imagine quite a few may have already predicted this as I've been quite burnt out trying to juggle everything. Nonetheless, I'm much more excited about what I'm hoping to share in this article which will, hopefully, be a long-term, if not lifelong, commitment towards my future goals: building OpenClinTech.
#healthtech #openclintech #clinicians #healthcare
Why All Clinicians Should Learn to Code
I’m an informatics pharmacist that graduated in 2013 but did my PGY-1 in Pharmacy Practice in 2013 and PGY-2 in Pharmacy Informatics in 2014. Thus, I officially started my full-time career as an informatics pharmacist in 2015. I wanted to write about my thoughts on coding and likely share some of my insights along the way as I develop my coding skills because one of the most common questions I get from students interested in informatics is: “Do I need to learn to code to be an informatics pharmacist?”
I'm Letting Go of My BCPS (aka Pharmacy Board Certification)
I'm letting go of my BCPS recertification this year and I have so many mixed emotions about this despite having it on the back of my mind for the last few years.
I just received the recertification email from BPS - Board of Pharmacy Specialties 10 days ago and had this article on my list of tasks since it's something that I wanted to write about as I part ways with one of the biggest goals that I defined for myself ever since I started pharmacy school at the University of Florida.
I'm not sure how this article will pan out as I am planning on just writing what comes top of mind as I sort through my own thoughts.
DIGITAL DISRUPTION IN HEALTHCARE: INSIGHTS FROM A CLINICIAN IN A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
An insightful article in NEJM Catalyst was published on March 1, 2023, by Karen DeSalvo, Chief Health Officer at Google, and Michael Howell, Chief Clinical Officer at Google. Having spent the last 10+ years as an pharmacist and clinician at multiple health systems (e.g. Mayo Clinic, University of Utah Health, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System), the article made me spend some time today to reflect on my own foray into a technology company just 10 months ago. In short, I am grateful for the path that Karen and Michael undoubtedly paved for other clinicians to venture into this industry.
In this article, I'd like to share my own experience as a health data architect/clinician at Verily, an Alphabet Inc. company and how it relates to the 6 lessons laid out by Karen and Michael. You can read the full #NEJM article here.
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP…STILL
I spent the last 2 months engaged in conversation with an assortment of individuals about what I want to be when I grow up. Yes, I'm still trying to figure that out. In fact, I don't think I ever really settled into a career as of yet that made me go, "Wow, I want to do this for the rest of my life".
The thing that fascinates me the most though is that I'm not alone. There are so many individuals out there wondering the same thing. Aside from exploring my own interests, I spent a great deal of time conversing with others, often strangers, on what paths they should take as well. It seemed as though the article I wrote about Data Science resonated with many of you who are in careers at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
In this month's article, I wanted to reflect on some of the conversations I've had over the last 2 months, but also share with you some of my next steps.