Future Students
Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio
Major: Health Information Management and Systems (HIMS)
Minor: English
Class of 2023
Fun fact: I love to water ski
Career Path: I have a year-round internship with the James Cancer Program Analytics team
Why did you choose your major?
I began my journey as an actuarial science major. I knew that I wanted to work in a field involving data and analytics, but I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go with that. After realizing that my first major was not something I wanted to pursue, I began looking into other options and met up with a friend who was in the HIMS program to talk about her experience. She explained how her studies combined business and analytics with health care and how she felt fulfilled being able to help others behind the scenes. I’ve always wanted my work to have a purpose and I’ve found that through HIMS and the world of health care analytics.
What advice would you give future students planning to pursue this major?
I would recommend meeting with the HIMS program directors and talking through what a career in HIMS would look like for you. HIMS is a small program, and because of that, the professors and faculty are very accessible. Getting to know them can also help you to get connected with internships and other unique opportunities. I’d also recommend getting involved at Ohio State! There are so many clubs and organizations that you can be a part of. I’m a member of Buckeyes Against Cancer and H2O, and have been introduced to so many opportunities related and not related to HIMS, that I feel helped to build the person I am today.
What has been the most helpful resource(s) to you at Ohio State?
The advisors and faculty have been very helpful to me throughout my journey at Ohio State. Being someone who didn’t start out as a HIMS major, I had a lot of questions and concerns about what it looked like to be a HIMS student and what life after college could look like. Both groups have been very helpful and patient with me and I would recommend leveraging them as much as possible.
What are you doing as a student at Ohio State that you never imagined you’d be doing?
As a student, I’m working for the James on their Cancer Program Analytics team and through this internship, I’ve had the opportunity to look at real data and learn what it looks like to be a part of the industry two years before my graduation.
Do you feel prepared for the future of your profession?
So far, yes, but the HIMS program is different than many others at Ohio State that you may encounter. The program is set up so that you complete your prerequisites and general education classes during your first and second year and your third and fourth year are completely devoted to major-specific classes and experiences. Being an incoming third year, I have not yet experienced what a completely HIMS-focused course load looks like, but I feel that the prerequisites have helped me to become a well-rounded individual and a competent member of the working world.
What does “The future of health care begins here” mean to you?
The future of health care truly does begin here, with us. The health care industry is constantly changing and we, future professionals, are part of this evolution. We have the unique role of innovating and engineering new solutions in health care to provide better and more accessible care to people across the world. We can learn from the successes and failures of today so that we can plan and create a brighter tomorrow.