Steve Jobs saw it coming.
“I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology,” he said. “A new era is beginning.”
Data scientists are catalyzing the change by interpreting expansive data sets from wearables and other devices to gain clear understanding and actionable insights.
In healthcare, this emerging field and its use of artificial intelligence can do more than improve outcomes for patients. It also has the power to speed drug development, lower healthcare costs and minimize errors.
Data science is playing a critical role in the rapid rise of healthtech, and those with a strong background in IT, data mining, health information management, statistics or programming have the opportunity to be a part of the data science revolution.
Built In Chicago recently sat down with Jared Bowen, a manager of technology and data at 10Pearls who is standing at the fore of this emerging era. He talks about the pros of working in the field, how to keep pace with changing legislation and the future of healthcare.
10Pearls is a consulting firm that helps clients digitize, innovate and execute.
What are some of the unique challenges to working in data science in healthtech?
Be nimble and creative with problem-solving. Even though healthcare has a reputation for moving slowly with technology, the industry is constantly changing based on legislation and other outside factors. Data scientists tend to have more autonomy to solve a problem. They aren't as reliant as others on enterprise-wide technology decisions, so they can often use their “favorite” tools and a full set of historical data to look ahead and solve a new problem.
Even though healthcare has a reputation for moving slowly with technology, the industry is constantly changing based on legislation and other outside factors.”
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of working in data science for a healthtech company?
You know you are making a difference. You get to see your impact whether it’s helping a patient find a specialist quickly, providing a nurse with a user experience to navigate through their routines faster or guiding a patient to a lower-cost drug alternative efficiently.
What misconceptions do you think industry outsiders might have about working in healthtech?
I only started to go deep in healthcare over the last two years. Prior to that, I was “industry agnostic” and focused more on being a technical expert. A strong technical foundation on how to solve problems, identify patterns and communicate complex ideas will carry you forward in healthcare.
