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Anne, Health IT Project Manager at Top 10 Hospital in the Nation: Advize Career Interview

A career path blending biology, public health, and project management led to a Health IT Project Manager role at a top-10 national hospital.

This professional's journey, beginning with a medical assistant position and a Master's in Public Health, showcases a transition from clinical operations to technology, focusing on electronic medical record projects.

Success in this demanding role requires strong communication, organization, and accountability, with a focus on keeping projects on schedule and within budget.

The work offers daily variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to directly impact patient care through initiatives improving data portability, safety, and privacy, while addressing complex regulatory challenges.

A key takeaway: operational experience combined with IT skills is crucial, and a long-game perspective is vital for navigating the stress and delayed gratification of multi-year projects.

Entry-level aspirants should seek associate, analyst, or coordinator roles, developing soft skills and technical expertise through internships or volunteer work.

Leadership roles in college organizations proved invaluable, fostering transferable skills and professional connections.

Finally, a diversity lens, informed by a master's focus on sociocultural diversity in health, shapes approach to project development, promoting health equity and equitable patient care.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Anne Nguyen

Health IT Project Manager

Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

UC Irvine

UCI Irvine, Masters of Public Health

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Biology & Related Sciences

Healthcare

Operations and Project Management

LGBTQ

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Career Path of a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Anne's career path began with a biology major and pre-med aspirations, fueled by involvement in "the public health association" and work as a medical assistant. After completing a Master's in Public Health at UC Irvine, a shift in interest towards "health policy and health administration" led to a project management career in California's academic medical centers, progressing from project coordinator to their current role.

Career Path of a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Main Responsibilities of a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager at a top hospital, focuses on "electronic medical record projects," ensuring they stay "on schedule, within budget, and within scope," including recent work on updating systems to accurately reflect patient and staff gender identity. This role leverages their previous project management experience in clinical operations, transitioning into the technology sector.

Main Responsibilities of a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Most Important Skills for a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager at a top hospital, focuses on "electronic medical record projects," ensuring they stay "on schedule, within budget, and within scope," with a recent example being a project to update systems to accurately reflect patient and staff gender identity. This role leverages Anne's project management background, transitioning from clinical operations to the technology sector.

Most Important Skills for a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Favorite Parts of Being a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager at a top hospital, cites communication, organization, and accountability as crucial skills. The ability to "keep track of where each project is" while working remotely and ensuring accountability to avoid impacting schedules or exceeding budgets are key to success in this demanding role.

Favorite Parts of Being a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 National Hospital

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager, enjoys the daily variety and autonomy of the role, stating "I get to do something different every day" while making a direct impact on patient care. This involves improving patient experience through initiatives focused on data portability, safety, and privacy, ultimately contributing to better healthcare coordination.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 National Hospital

Biggest Challenges Of Working In Health IT As A Health IT Project Manager

Anne's biggest challenge as a Health IT Project Manager is "people management," specifically influencing individuals across various levels without direct authority. Success hinges on building strong relationships, fostering a sense of ownership ("skin in the game"), and ensuring everyone understands their purpose within the projects.

Biggest Challenges Of Working In Health IT As A Health IT Project Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Health IT Industry, According To A Health IT Project Manager At A Top US Hospital

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager, finds the most rewarding aspect of her career is the significant impact even small technology projects have on population health; a key example is developing EMR modules to improve patient care, such as "a simple module...to document allergies," while also addressing complex regulatory challenges like "California regulations having to do with how we share data across state lines due to the reproductive health laws."

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Health IT Industry, According To A Health IT Project Manager At A Top US Hospital

What a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 National Hospital Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Health IT Industry

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager at a top hospital, highlights the importance of operational experience alongside IT skills for success in the field, stating that "the best healthcare project managers have experience in operations," allowing them to understand "the day-to-day challenges" and translate "requirements from a provider and patient standpoint" into effective technology solutions. This nuanced understanding of clinical workflows is a key differentiator for those who thrive.

What a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 National Hospital Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Health IT Industry

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Health IT Project Managers At A Top 10 Hospital

Anne, a Health IT Project Manager, wishes someone had prepared her for the daily stress and the sometimes delayed gratification of multi-year projects, stating that "some projects they can take years". To combat burnout, the key is focusing on positive team interactions and maintaining a "friendly and dependable" demeanor, impacting the work environment more directly than the eventual patient outcomes.

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Health IT Project Managers At A Top 10 Hospital

Significant Career Lesson from a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

For undergraduate students seeking entry-level health IT positions, Anne, a Health IT Project Manager, suggests exploring "associate, analyst, or project coordinator jobs," emphasizing that even volunteer roles can build crucial "organization, communication, and leadership skills." Gaining experience, whether through internships or "analyst type of role in a tech organization," is key to developing the necessary soft skills and technical expertise.

Significant Career Lesson from a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation

College Experiences That Helped A Health IT Project Manager Succeed At A Top 10 Hospital

A significant career lesson for this Health IT Project Manager is maintaining a "long game perspective," acknowledging that "the career is gonna go on for a number of decades," and focusing on small milestones to navigate inevitable project challenges and setbacks. This approach helps maintain perspective and stamina crucial for a long-term career in a demanding field.

College Experiences That Helped A Health IT Project Manager Succeed At A Top 10 Hospital

How Identity Has Influenced A Health IT Project Manager's Career At A Top Hospital

Anne's college success stemmed from actively seeking leadership roles in student organizations, which honed "time management and multitasking skills," and fostered valuable networking opportunities with professors and professionals, ultimately leading to enduring professional connections in the public health and tech fields. These transferable skills proved even more impactful than graduate school coursework in their career as a Health IT Project Manager.

How Identity Has Influenced A Health IT Project Manager's Career At A Top Hospital
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