Sophie Nguyen
Company: UNC Health Care
Position: Applications Analyst
PSM Program: BMHI
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
The uniquely interesting interdisciplinary fields and increasing relevance in health care. Health informatics is a growing field with lots of flexibility and potential.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
Soft skills like communication and leadership, as well as more technical skills like coding and project management.
Joshua Roaf
Company: Department of Defense
Position: Officer
PSM Program: Toxicology
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roafj
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
Perfect length of time required to compete, internship substituted for a thesis, and supporting courses to increase marketability.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
Every aspect of the “professional” portion of this degree has contributed back into my work. From improved pubic speaking to financial management, I feel more prepared to return to the workforce!
Sofia Dard
Company: NC Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
Position: Research Data Analyst
PSM Program: BMHI
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
It was the perfect graduate degree combination of science, technology and business. I wanted experience in all three of those fields.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
I am already familiar with the health informatics lingo that is used daily around the workplace!
Dobgima Joseph Njinimbam
Company: Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina
Position: Clinical Informatics Analyst
PSM Program: BMHI
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dobgimaj
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
UNC’s program offered a degree that encompassed my passion in Analytics, Business, and Healthcare. The professional science masters program teaches its students high caliber technical skills but also communication skills.
Are there additional comments you would like to offer?
Dobgima Joseph Njinimbam currently works at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (BCBSNC) as a Clinical Informatics Analyst. Currently he completes ad hoc request as directed by management to include the analysis of Medicare medical expense trends, utilization rates, and cost drivers. Prior to BCBSNC, he worked at North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (NCTRACS) as a Health Informatics Analyst. While there, he oversaw the creation and implementation of UNC’s i2b2 data dictionary, managed numerous scheduled reports, and extracted health data utilizing SQL and Base SAS.
Additionally, he was the team lead of the First Place winning team in the 2016 Digital Health Innovation Sprint. Their idea Asthma One is a mobile app for asthma patients focused on education and engagement.
Originally from South Carolina, Dob Njinimbam moved to NC to obtain his Masters in Biomedical and Health Informatics. He was part of the first cohort in 2014. He received a B.S. Biological Sciences (Pre-Med) degree from Clemson University. His goal was to become a Pediatrician; however, he was not accepted into a Medical School program in 2013. He turned a negative into a strong positive by obtaining an internship at the Department of Psychiatry in Greenville, SC. Working alongside the Department Chair of Psychiatry, Dr. Kenneth Rogers, he found his passion in utilizing health data to drive clinical and business decisions.
Allen Kapherr
Company: Alcami Corporation
Position: Supply Chain Planner
PSM Program: Toxicology
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-kapherr
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
I was really interested in the program initially because I felt it would allow me to build a business foundation, while also expanding on my science background. The combination of science and business is a really important part of industry that many people don’t realize.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
Words cannot describe how helpful the skills I learned have become. Our weekly seminars really gave us widespread exposure to all aspects of professionalism. This really gave me confidence when it came time to apply for internships and jobs and start working in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to this, the project management course and other business related courses helped prepare me for a non-science job and taught me some fundamentals that I use every day at work. This program does a great job educating in all areas of professionalism and because of this, I feel prepared every day when I walk into the office.
Megan Riley
Company: GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines
Position: Vaccines R&D Future Leaders Programme Associate
PSM Program: Toxicology
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileymeg/
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
I was initially attracted to the PSM program in Toxicology because it provided an opportunity to advance my scientific knowledge while concurrently developing my business skill set. At the time that I applied to the program, I knew that I wanted to transition from academia into industry and I was interested in a nontraditional graduate program that would help me achieve my professional goals. The PSM program was the perfect fit for me!
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
I use many of the skills that I developed within the PSM program daily in my current role. In addition to my technical skills, I regularly employ techniques that I developed through project management and communication coursework in my work. While in the PSM program, I also developed my leadership skills and improved my ability to influence and motivate others; I find both of these skills to be very helpful while working in a matrix environment.
Are there additional comments you would like to offer?
My PSM internship was a wonderful opportunity for me to apply the technical, business, and leadership skills that I developed through my coursework in a meaningful and tangible way. It was a great learning and developmental opportunity that prepared me well for beginning my current position after graduating from the program.
Priyanka Bhojwani
Company: Clover Health
Position: Operational Analytics Associate
PSM Program: BMHI
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanka-bhojwani-20144150/
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
I applied to the PSM program because I wanted a blend of operational and technical skills, that are extremely relevant to the healthcare industry today.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
Within my previous role at IQVIA, I was able to utilize my understanding of patient data and the healthcare industry, to answer key business questions for pharmaceutical client with ease. I am excited to see how I utilize my skills within my new role at Clover Health!
Evan Galloway
Company: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Position: Data visualization analyst
PSM Program: BMHI
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
To learn more about using data to improve the health of populations.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
Yes. My degree gave me three things – the technical background for much of my work, an understanding of the healthcare and population health landscape, and enhanced professional skills.
Amanda Krzywinski
Company: Synchrogenix
Position: Regulatory Writer II
PSM Program: Toxicology
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakrzywinski/
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
I wanted to study Toxicology, with the added benefit of being well prepped for an industry position. I did not necessarily want to complete a PhD program, but I still wanted to gain this higher education. The PSM program was the exact middle ground that I was looking for and landed me an industry position in a field that I love!
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
The toxicology courses that I took at UNC provided a solid scientific background for my position. Additionally, the professional courses, such as communication, presenting, and GRAD725, prepared me for a professional atmosphere, and I am frequently complimented by my colleagues on the skills that I acquired through these courses.
Andrew Novokhatny
Company: CapTech Consulting
Position: Data Analytics Consultant
PSM Program: BMHI
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewnovokhatny/
Why were you originally interested in applying to your PSM program?
In order to get a more data driven curriculum focused on the health IT space.
How have the skills you learned within the PSM program helped you in your work?
I am able to interpret any situation as one that directly pertains to proper management, flow, and analysis of data. The program has given me an analytical and conceptual framework that can be applied to virtually any data-related topic, which are incredibly marketable skills within the world of IT consulting.