The healthcare industry is growing rapidly in Westchester and beyond. Patient and healthcare data are advancing quickly, with demands for health informaticians in healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies, among others.
The Applied Health Informatics (AHI) masters program at Fordham University was developed out of a need for a practical, foundational approach to the subject of health informatics.
Growth in the Healthcare Field
New software is emerging that promises to catapult health information systems into the 21st century. Yet, in many countries, there is little to no access to healthcare information in digital form. In many cases, even the most advanced economies struggle to integrate sources of clinical information.
“The AHI program was conceived to equip students with a broad knowledge of the field of health informatics,” explains Laura Bigaouette, the Associate Dean of Strategy and Program Development for the Fordham University School of Professional & Continuing Studies. “Once students get the foundation on structured information, open standards for information representation, and clinical terminology – and the ways in which the pathways of clinical care can be supported by high-quality patient information – they can move on to the subjects that are pushing the boundaries of this exciting field.”
Among these subjects are generative AI, artificial neural networks (a computer program that learns to process data using a structure inspired by the human brain), Bayesian inference for clinical decision support (a statistical method that allows healthcare professionals to incorporate prior knowledge and current patient data to calculate the probability of a specific diagnosis or treatment outcome), advanced data analytics, big data, telemedicine, and access for patients to their own health records at every level of health literacy.
“Fordham’s mission is to provide education that assists in the promotion of justice and protection of human rights. Fordham sees that trends in healthcare are more data-driven with the emergence of new technologies, and it is therefore important that Fordham prepares students for leadership in a global society,” Bigaouette says.
About the Program
The Master of Science program is led by Oxford University-educated Dr. John Chelsom. Chelsom’s expertise lies in informatics and real-world applications development, and he is involved with the Open Source Electronic Health Records Initiative, which aims to deploy open sources of electronic health records in low-income countries to deliver better healthcare overall and improve patient outcomes.
The Master of Science program requires 36 credits to complete. Students start in the fall semester with three core courses: the Science of Clinical Information, the Practice of Clinical Information Processing, and the Engineering of Clinical Information Systems. “These core courses provide an overview on health informatics and health records,” Bigaouette explains.
From there, students can then choose five courses out of eight elective options. Some of the elective options include Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Healthcare Integration, and Analysis and Reporting in Healthcare, among others. Students then go on to complete a capstone thesis or research project that involves a practical, real-world topic.
These projects have resulted in important student contributions to global health organizations. Mishal Ahmed, a 2023 graduate of the AHI program, developed an electronic health record system for an orphanage in Africa. Ahmed was connected to the human rights organization Humanity First, which established an orphanage in Benin and required an electronic health record system to store all of their data online rather than on paper.
“This opportunity gave me the chance to create something that would help people in real life,” Ahmed explains. The electronic health record she created is completely free and will be used at the orphanage in Benin to store health records effectively and efficiently, so “the healthcare workers can use their time to deliver better healthcare.”
“This program taught us a lot about system integrations, artificial intelligence, and using a new programming language to name a few,” Ahmed shares. “Also, I got the chance to attend residential workshops in St. Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford. This was a great opportunity to meet all of the program fellows. I am also impressed by how they cover the whole course and teach us so much since the whole program took place online.”
What Sets Fordham’s AHI Program Apart?
There are many aspects of the AHI program that differentiate it from other programs in health informatics and digital health. For one, students gain insight into the full breadth of the subject and are given the opportunity to drill down into the areas that are of most interest to them individually.
Chelsom is at the forefront of the internal health informatics field and, under his leadership, the AHI program is actively involved with the Global Open Source Electronic Health Records initiative. As a result, students and faculty have contributed to projects in several African countries, Pakistan, and Ukraine. Additionally, twice a year, students have the opportunity to study intensive, one-week courses for the program at St. Edmund Hall in Oxford, England.
“Dr. Chelsom provides valuable connections for student project work that leads to impactful patient and healthcare solutions,” Bigaouette shares.
The Future of Healthcare
Dr. Chelsom has observed the ways in which health informatics has expanded and evolved massively in recent years. However, he still believes that this field of study has much more to offer.
“We are developing the next generation of thought leaders in health informatics,” says Chelsom. “These people will push the boundaries of this fast-moving field and make significant contributions to the improvement of health care all over the world.”
Next Steps
Those interested in enrolling in the Applied Health Informatics program should visit Fordham’s registration page for admission information.
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