When I was a kid, I knew healthcare would be my profession. With a couple of stretches in different industries, I was called back to healthcare at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. I now serve as senior director and principal data scientist for the enterprise, where I love finding solutions in the healthcare space using advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence and cutting-edge work doesn’t always mean “best-for-business.” Being able to evaluate when and how to use AI appropriately is critical to success.
Speak up, even if your voice shakes.
Scientists experiment, so course-correcting is part of my daily practice. The key to not repeating the same mistake is to document, document, document and learn from what didn’t work.
Salesmanship. Technical skill alone is rarely enough to drive impact. You have to be able to convey that your discovery has value, even if it seems obvious to you.
When I first saw how my predictions actually created informed changes for the better, I was hooked.
Journaling helps me sort my 90-mile-an-hour thoughts. And music keeps me sane.
Being a part of the world’s largest pediatric longitudinal study doing epigenomics was pretty epic.
The Museum of Discovery. It’s not just for kids, y’all.
I have an extraordinary team of brilliant people who want to do good in the world and improve how health care is accessed, received and measured.
My very first job was selling siding and windows via telephone. That nine hours showed me that I was not born to be a salesman.
