While an undergraduate in the biology/pre-med program at Georgia State, I found myself stagnant in the program looking for more innovation and development opportunities within the healthcare industry. Through the Student Advisement office, I received information about the health informatics program created a few years prior and began my pre-requisites the next semester!

I choose the health informatics program due to the program's interdisciplinary nature with health informatics sitting at the intersection of computer science, nursing, economics, and business. When researching the program, I saw that the professors were active professionals in these various healthcare fields, working with hospitals like Emory and Grady. It was invaluable to have professionals teaching, combining the relevant theoretical aspects with the practical skills needed to thrive in the healthcare field in various roles. It was invaluable to know that what I would learn would directly apply to the skillset needed postgraduation. I wanted to be able to have the choice to seek employment immediately or further my education in any direction of my choice.

The cohort structure allowed the professors to pace and tailor their teaching styles to match the class without shortchanging anything in the syllabi. The environment was very nurturing and promoted healthy competition among our cohort members with our course practicums. These course practicums truly modeled the process of project management and working on consulting projects. The curriculum structure laid out how each discipline fits into health informatics, shaping our confidence in understanding an emerging field.

My most memorable courses were the “Electronic Health Records” and “Health Policy in the US” classes. Working with electronic health records is one of the core facets of my job, and I work with them daily. I appreciated the professor for this course because they tailored the course to different learning styles by applying learning beyond lectures and PowerPoints. Her input in nursing informatics helped shape the way I present information to clinical staffs across the nation. Also, understanding how and why these systems perform the way they do was an advantage for me when entering my job after graduation.

Also, the “Health Policy in the US” class was one of the most challenging courses for my cohort. It was the most practical and informative and provided me early knowledge for skills listed in my current job description. I am proud to say that I have my former professor for health policy as a client, working with them through their partnership with Emory University. Overall, these courses were integral to my success in my role today, working in the regulatory compliance space.

I was introduced to Cerner via a networking opportunity provided by the health informatics program. During the first six weeks of employment, my company offers training for their new associates as a precursor for associates that have not had the luxury of working in this field. Luckily, the information was repetitive due to my degree knowledge and relevant coursework at Georgia State. I also enjoyed the volunteer opportunities used to prepare students for interaction with electronic health and information systems organizations via conferences like the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

I encourage current and future students to treat each class as an introduction to a new clinical informatics sector. There are various opportunities and interconnected topic areas intertwined with the continually emerging field of clinical informatics. The most positive aspect of this is that there is always a new topic to learn or skill to develop. So, unlike many fields, there’s always room to improve and grow as a health informaticist.

I advise students to network with your cohort members and those entering the program after you and the program’s alumni. It is always a pleasure to check in on your fellow alumni after graduation and realize you ended up in the same places! You also never know what opportunities you can provide for each other. Your network is your net worth.

I started expressing more interest in the technology side of healthcare and wanted to expand my knowledge in the field. Technology is a big aspect of healthcare, so I wanted to be more proficient in the field.

Many of the projects at PwC focus on implementation and project management, especially with technology. I’ve been able to use what I’ve learned to assist with the very ambiguous nature of consulting.

The most memorable part of my education has been my experience in three different programs. I’ve gone from Exercise Science to Public Health & now Health Informatics. I haven’t had the most traditional education path, but I wouldn’t change anything about it because I have more experience in different fields.

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to career changes, but always do your research and stay well informed.

I found this program to be the perfect place to network if you truly want to advance in health informatics and any field. This has probably been one of my favorite educational experiences, mainly because of the connections made and how much professors have truly dedicated themselves to ensuring we are prepared in and out of the classroom.

After completing my health science degree, I wanted to continue my education in a field that combines healthcare and information technology. I came across the HI program at GSU after searching for various options, including nursing informatics and bioinformatics. At the time, the HI informatics program was only a few years old, so I reached out to a few students to inquire about their experience. I applied for the 2016 Fall Semester, and I was enrolled in the 4th cohort without knowing what to expect. It proved to be one of the best decisions for my career.

The faculty is composed of instructors and professors with vast experience in the Healthcare industry, and they also have a passion for teaching. Some of the instructors have well over a decade in the industry. I also appreciated the academic structure and the course work tailored to working adults. The course work is relevant and applicable to the industry. One of the best outcomes from this program - besides the degree, I’ve created long-lasting friendships with faculty and fellow students. We even traveled together to attend events organized by HIMSS (Health Information Management Systems Society).

The atmosphere was conducive to growth and friendly competitions. Some of the most difficult classes proved to be very relevant in the real world. I remember vividly delivering the final presentation for the project management class, and the final presentation after completing the VA internship. I knew I was set for success with all the right tools.

I was able to secure a job as a senior health IT consultant immediately after graduation. After less than one year, I moved up to another role with a Fortune 500 company. My degree and my work experience proved to be instrumental in making a move.

To future students, I would recommend to really figure out if their passion is in health IT and reach out to current alumni of questions. To current students, I would recommend that they become more active on LinkedIn and to create relationships with companies where they wish to work in the future. When asking to connect with someone on LinkedIn, follow the proper etiquette and do not assume they will always accept to connect. If you are interested in learning from them, you can still “follow” them. Set role-models and seek mentorship. As a student, try to explore all the tools and networking opportunities, stay in touch with professors and follow their advice. They want you to succeed! Professors are your best allies, and they are your biggest supporters. You never know what the future holds, and you may end up working for them. I was very happy for the opportunity to work for one of my professors for a short-term contract at Emory Healthcare.

GSU health informatics allowed me to open career doors that were closed prior to completing my degree.

I selected the program as I was looking to make a career change. I always knew that I wanted to be in healthcare, and as I got older, I realized that I still wanted to be in healthcare but not on the patient side. As I was doing my research on the program, I found that there was all of this data in healthcare, and companies were trying to figure ways to harness that information and use it for the good of patients.

There were lots of positive attributes from instructors throughout the program. I will say some pushed more than others, but that is okay. Sometimes it was good to get a small bit of air. I feel that the instructors that pushed the hardest were the ones that worked in the industry and knew exactly what to highlight and give advice. Some other things that were done throughout the program made students research relevant subjects that pertained to the field. I feel that this helped to set the students up for what to expect and also to learn how to navigate in a field that can change in an instant.

I knew from day one that I was on the path to my new career. The whole process of going back to school was memorable for me. My second semester in the program is when I attended my first HIMSS Conference. This was when I knew I did not make a mistake, and I was on the path to something rewarding and something I was truly interested in. By the third semester, it became very clear what I wanted to after graduation.

Before going into the program, I worked in supply chain and logistics. I feel that the program more than prepared me for making a career change and helped me focus on my career goals. After graduation, I was able to secure employment within the field.

Always listen and never shy away from asking questions. When asking questions, make sure to listen and keep notes if needed.  Always listen to what is being presented and remember that you do not always have to respond when those in charge are giving you advice.

As a student in the program, take it all in. Take advantage of all the lectures from outside organizations. Take advantage of the many conferences that represent the program. Take advantage of the many connections you can make in the industry. Most of the people you meet are more than happy to talk about the industry and eager to give advice.

Rely on your instructors and peers that are in your cohort. The peers to align with are ones who show up to class on time, are always pulling their weight when it comes to group assignments, and always making an assertive effort to do their best. When you get into the workforce, having peers you can rely on can be very beneficial when you feel like you are way over your head. The same is true with the instructors who have helped mold you and ready you for the real world; they are always willing to help with advice and suggestions when searching.