As a healthcare analytics professional, Eva Baker had spent nearly a decade honing her skills in the United States of America (USA). However, when she and her family considered moving to Singapore, she realised that despite her extensive experience, she might not be able to seamlessly transition into the new market — the healthcare landscape in Singapore would be different, and she knew she needed to bridge this gap.

That is when Eva found the National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (MSc) (Biomedical Informatics) programme. “My family and I had wanted to relocate to Singapore,” she shares, “but I knew that I needed to translate my work experience stateside to the healthcare analytics systems here. I saw this Master’s degree as a way to help me learn about Singapore’s healthcare system and its data in a manner that would make me more competitive.”

Her decision to enrol in the programme was not just about career advancement — it was about ensuring a smooth transition for her family and making Singapore their new home.

A Path Less Travelled: Taking on a Career outside Her Field of Study

As was the case with her move to Singapore, Eva’s journey into healthcare analytics began with an unexpected opportunity. Double-majoring in Economics and International Relations during her undergraduate studies, she had not initially planned to enter the healthcare sector. However, in hindsight, she notes that her majors and choice of career somehow dovetailed, as she had a unique perspective into how healthcare policy impacts the data as well as how differing healthcare systems affect data capture and the role of interoperability.

Her career in healthcare analytics began in 2015, a few years after she attained her undergraduate degree. Eva quickly found herself immersed in the world of healthcare data. Over the next several years, she built up her experience and led analytics efforts in various domains, including population health management, provider evaluation and business intelligence. With her plans to move to Singapore and work in the country’s healthcare sector, the decision take up the NUS MSc (Biomedical Informatics) programme was one she carefully thought over.

Eva reflects, “While I have learned so much from more than eight years of working in the field in the USA, I have realised it is also helpful to formalise some of that knowledge in structured courses.” She adds: “So far, this programme has allowed me to fill in gaps for areas of healthcare data I had not yet had a chance to work with hands-on, like genomics data, as well as to get up to speed on the newest data science developments.”

Eva’s NUS Experience: Learning and Growing

As she approaches the tail end of her time in the NUS MSc (Biomedical Informatics) programme, Eva looks back on her experience with a sense of accomplishment. Each course has contributed to her growing expertise, with ‘Health Sciences for Non-Clinicians’ being a notable stand out.

“I wish I had taken the class 10 years ago,” she says with a smile. “The course, an introduction to biology as well as various diseases, helps non-clinicians to better understand data and medical codes. The class also teaches about the clinical workflow, which is so important for ensuring our solutions are effective when deployed.”

Eva also found great value in the ‘Advanced Evidence-Based Patient Care’ and ‘Advanced Statistical Learning’ courses, which delve into research design and data modelling. Both are essential for professionals aiming to be at the forefront of healthcare analytics.

However, perhaps the most significant takeaway from her time at NUS has been the connections she has managed to make. “The networking opportunities made available through the programme have been great for meeting people working in healthcare data here and for getting a sense of which skills are currently in demand,” she notes.

A New Chapter: Building Her Healthcare Analytics Career in Singapore

Eva’s hard work has paid off — even before completing her degree, she has secured a full-time position as a Senior Data and Analytics Health Specialist at Amplify Health in Singapore. In this role, she manages the analytic features and data pipeline for the company’s chronic disease management offering as well as its health insurer risk and opportunity analytics, applying the skills and knowledge she has gained both from her professional background and her studies with NUS.

Reflecting on her journey, Eva is grateful for the opportunities the NUS MSc (Biomedical Informatics) programme has provided — taking her technical skills to the next level, while also giving her the confidence and professional network to navigate a new healthcare system and contribute meaningfully to her new community in Singapore.

Sound Advice: Making the Most of Your Master’s Programme

Drawing from her own experience, Eva has some advice to share for those considering further developing their capabilities with a Master’s degree.

“Think about how the programme will fill in gaps in your experience, and which classes you would like to target, as this will determine your specialisation. Be highly engaged in class and get to know your professors, as they have fantastic real-world experience to share. Also, come ready to network with your peers. We can all teach each other a lot and help each other in the future, so do not be shy!”

Looking Forward: A Future in Healthcare Informatics

As Eva continues to grow from strength to strength in her career, she is optimistic about the future of healthcare informatics. She acknowledges the challenges of entering the field, but believes that those who can pair technical skills with a deep understanding of healthcare will stand out.

She explains: “The best models will still fail if they are developed in a vacuum. To roll out our work, we need to understand what exactly is needed, how we are going to meet that need, the key limitations, and how this aligns to our business — all communicated clearly. This is a lot to ask of one person, but being well-rounded will help you stand out among all the technical talent.”

Interested in advancing your career in healthcare informatics? Learn more about the NUS Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics programme here.