- How did you learn about the program and what motivated you to enroll?
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Prior to coming to Canada, I had worked in the area of math and statistics. When I moved to Canada I pursued work in Data Management and then became particularly interested in the field of data analytics for health services. As a result, I searched online for a related program in this area and found information on the PHDA program. I had taken previous training courses in business and data analytics so the PHDA program seemed like a perfect way to expand my knowledge and skills within the field of population health.
- Tell us about your course experience. What skills did you develop and which courses provided the greatest benefit to you?
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The Working with Administrative Data (PHDA 01) course was a perfect course for me. It gave me a good introduction to the field of Population Health and provided a good refresher for my SAS skills.
The Epidemiological Statistics (PHDA 02) course was a fair bit of review for me as I have a strong statistical background. As a result, the health specific focus of the course and related terminology provided the greatest value to me.
The Population Health and GIS (PHDA 03) course was the most interesting but also the hardest course I took due to the project work and data management skills that were involved.
- How have you been able to (or how do you plan to) apply your new skills in your work/research?
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As I am now working in the healthcare field, I feel the health terminology and related analytic work I completed in the program have been helpful in my current workplace. In particular, I am using some of these skills in my reporting projects. Within the next couple of years I also expect that my work will be incorporating more geospatial skills so the foundation skills I have learned in this area will also be beneficial.
- What do you think were the strengths of this program? Please provide examples.
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I feel this is a very unique program that combines the use of data analytics, statistical software and focused learning objectives related to the field of health. I also appreciated the fact that it was a fully online program with well-organized lectures, readings and remotely accessed lab work in health data analytics.
- Would you recommend this program to others? If so, what recommendations/suggestions would you give those interested in applying to this program?
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Yes, I would definitely recommend the program to others.
- Any additional comments you would like to add?
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Overall the program was very helpful to my knowledge and skill development in the field of healthcare analytics. The program exceeded my expectations particularly because of the remotely accessed data analytic lab work that was more challenging than I anticipated. This work was very practical and very much oriented to real life case examples. The calibre of students in my courses was also very high as most were working professionals who brought valuable experience and knowledge to the discussion forums and project work.
