How a MS in Health Informatics Degree Prepared this UIC Alum to Lead in Health Tech Product Management

The demand for skilled professionals in healthcare technology is growing fast, and UIC’s online MS in Health Informatics (MSHI) program is helping graduates build the expertise they need to stand out. Designed to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology, the program gives students a strong foundation to navigate the complexities of today’s healthcare systems and innovate for the future. For alumna Alison Doughtery, the MS in Health Informatics program played a key role in her path to becoming a product manager in health tech. 

In this spotlight, Alison talks about how the MSHI program helped her successfully transition from clinical operations to product management in healthcare technology. She explains how the courses gave her practical skills she could apply immediately at work, and how that hands-on experience helped her grow into more advanced roles. From contributing to an award-winning EHR project to navigating emerging trends like AI, Alison shows how the MSHI program gave her a strong foundation for long-term success in the industry. 

Can You Provide an Overview of Your Background? 

I earned my undergraduate degree in chemistry and molecular biology. I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare somehow, but during undergrad, I wasn’t exactly sure how. I started working at Epic and really enjoyed it, but over time, I felt a bit removed from patients. It’s easy to feel disconnected when you’re developing software and not seeing the direct impact on the people it’s meant to help. I still wanted to stay in healthcare technology, but I needed a broader view of the industry with a more hands-on perspective with patients, nurses, and doctors. 

So, I left Epic and moved into clinical operations, working as a clinic administrator. That’s when I enrolled in the health informatics degree program at UIC. I worked full time while completing the program and, over the course of it, transitioned through several roles. I am now a product manager at a nation-wide value-based primary care network. 

How the MSHI Program Equipped You for a Career in Product Management 

One of my most valuable courses was BHIS 532: Theoretical Concepts of Clinical Decisions Support Systems. It taught me how to build mental models for navigating diagnostic pathways, which directly translates to what I do now as a product manager. In my role, I work with clinicians and engineers to design software products, and a big part of that is figuring out how to structure and support clinical decision-making through technology. The foundation I got in that class has been incredibly relevant. 

Another course, BHIS 520: Health Information Systems Analysis & Design, also focused on evaluating and implementing technology within healthcare workflows. It taught me how to assess whether a technology fits the task and how to roll it out in a real-world setting effectively. That, too, is a massive part of my job. I often do build vs. buy analyses, assess new health information systems, and figure out how to implement them in a way that aligns with our organizational workflows. The skills I gained in these courses were incredibly applicable to what I do today. 

What Was the Most Valuable Project You Completed in UIC’s Online MSHI Program?     

We had an assignment in my BHIS 532: Theoretical Concepts of Clinical Decisions Support Systems course where we had to build out a clinical decision support system using a rules-based model. We worked through decision trees and had to think critically about how those pathways are created. 

At the time, I thought it was a cool project, but now, in hindsight, I can see how much it overlaps with what I do in my current role. I work with those systems now, so it became surprisingly relevant, even though I didn’t realize it then. 

What Steps Did You Take to Advance Your Career While Completing the MSHI Program? 

One of the things I liked about the MS in Health Informatics program was that it wasn’t full-time in a way that took me out of the workforce. I was able to apply what I was learning as I went. I started the program while working in clinical operations, and as I progressed through classes, especially those focused on technology, I moved into an Electronic Health Records (EHR) operations role. I tried to take something from every course and apply it at work, even if it wasn’t part of my formal job description. Sometimes I’d reach out to colleagues to explore ideas sparked by my coursework. That helped me build a network and gain experience in new areas. 

So, for me, it was a gradual transition. It wasn’t about finishing the degree and then figuring it out; it was about consistently bringing classroom concepts into the real world, which ultimately helped me get to where I am today. 

How Did the MSHI Program Help Your Team Win a MedTech Breakthrough Award for EHR Innovation? 

It ties back to what I learned in the MSHI program, especially BHIS 510: Informatics and Population Health which focused on analyzing tasks fit for a job to be done. That was a huge takeaway for me. While working on the Electronic Health Records (EHR) project, I kept returning to that concept: What’s the job we’re trying to accomplish? 

The primary care network I worked at won the EHR Innovation Award in 2021. The product we developed was a company-proprietary workflow tool, and it was great to know that we were building something that could truly impact our users and the way they deliver care. 

EHRs get a bad reputation for being click-heavy, but sometimes that burden doesn’t come from the software itself. It comes from how it’s being used or what’s being asked of it by administrators. That class helped me frame conversations in a more productive way, where I could push back a bit and say, “Let’s look at what the care team needs.” That mindset helped guide our team toward building something more intuitive and impactful.  

How Has Earning the Online MS in Health Informatics Degree Given You an Advantage in Your Field? 

I’d say the most significant advantage was taking what I was learning in class and immediately applying it at work. Industry is diverse, with people from various backgrounds, so not everyone has the same academic foundation. UIC’s health informatics degree program gave me a framework for thinking about healthcare problems and bringing those ideas to my team. 

I would take concepts from class, write something up, and share it with coworkers to explore how we might use it. That process helped me stand out. The skills I gained and how I applied them definitely contributed to my growth. I started as an HR operations associate around my first year in the program, and each year after that, I moved into more advanced roles from application analyst to where I am now. 

How the MSHI Program Prepares You for Trends and Challenges in the Health Informatics Field? 

The coursework helped me develop a strong framework for understanding the health informatics field. For example, we covered the technology hype cycle, which gave me a valuable perspective on assessing emerging healthcare technology. Healthcare is constantly evolving, and today’s challenges may not be the same tomorrow. For instance, new technology and healthcare innovations like AI could change the landscape. 

The program taught me how to evaluate these shifts and assess various healthcare technology solutions, not just EHRs. Healthcare tech is constantly changing, so having that foundational knowledge has been crucial in helping me stay adaptable and informed as trends and challenges in the industry continue to evolve. 

Advice for Prospective Students Considering UIC’s online MSHI Program 

If you’re considering enrolling, I’d suggest you consider what you want for the next step in your career and make sure the program aligns with those goals. Talking to past students and people in roles you’re interested in can help give you insight. Reach out and ask them what they’ve learned or what skills they use. It will provide you with a better sense of whether the program is the right fit for you. 

Once you’re enrolled, my advice is to commit fully. With online programs, it’s easy to think you can show up, do the bare minimum, and get by, but that’s not how UIC’s program works. The more effort you put into it, the more you’ll get out. If you go in with the mindset that you’re gaining fundamental knowledge and skills, not just a degree, you’ll find the experience incredibly rewarding.