University of Findlay Health Informatics: Endless Opportunities

Loredona Arrey, MSHI ’20 grew up in Cameroon, Africa, with a passion for healthcare and helping people. After completing her undergraduate degree in biological science and receiving a minor in neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati, Arrey had her eyes set on pharmacy and medicine. Things quickly changed, and Arrey found herself at University of Findlay studying health informatics.

“My interest in health informatics spiked when we had a career fair on campus and we had the UC Department of Health Informatics come out to talk to us,” she said. “It was very interesting knowing that one can combine working in healthcare and using technology to improve and affect change in both the clinical and public health sectors.”

Health informatics is the science of processing data for storage and retrieval, with the purpose of improving healthcare outcomes. Examples include electronic health records, data collection devices like glucometers and vital sign monitors, and the integration of healthcare technologies into day-to-day patient care. Health informatic professionals are also on the leading edge of healthcare and technology, using informatics to create, program, and design healthcare artificial intelligence (AI). “Many processes are now automated to reduce error and increase performance. I’m delighted to know that UF is preparing its students for the new evolving world,” said Arrey.

Arrey graduated from UF’s Master of Science in Health Informatics program in 2020 and started working at The Christ Hospital as their information management personnel. “I immediately realized how broad my degree was. I took some courses on data visualization using Tableau and Power BI, and learned additional statistical tools like SAS,” she said. Through her experience at University of Findlay, and through the additional learning she proactively accomplished, Arrey now finds herself working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Working as an informatics health scientist fellow through the Public Health Informatics Fellowship offered in the CDC, Arrey is working to change the world in the Division of Adolescence and School Health. She said she is thankful for the opportunities and experience that University of Findlay provided her, and hopes those students currently in the program, “aim high and shoot very far, because their opportunities are endless.”

Arrey was thankful for the experience and support the faculty members brought to the classroom and says it’s about more than getting your degree. “You will be groomed not just to graduate, but to become a subject matter expert in your field. You will be in great hands, and the program will make you ready to take over the technology space in healthcare.”

Arrey hopes to continue her career in health informatics at the CDC, and dreams of working as an informatician in the public health sector.

For more information on the Master of Science in Health Informatics program at the University of Findlay, visit their webpage and schedule a visit. For those people interested in the program, but located outside of the state, the program is offered 100 percent online, or in a hybrid format.