Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Student Spotlight: Daphne Chen
| 3 Min Read
A passionate speech pathologist, Daphne Chen recognised that traditional healthcare systems had shortcomings, including overlooked patient needs and difficulties. This prompted her to explore how technology could bridge these clinical gaps, leading her to La Trobe’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health.
This course helped Daphne understand the benefits of digital health technologies and their potential to enhance clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.
In this spotlight, Daphne reflects on how digital health is shaping healthcare policies for the better, the challenges technology can help address, and how La Trobe’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health has inspired her to develop practical digital solutions for the future of healthcare.
Why did you choose La Trobe’s Digital Health course?
I’m a certified practising Speech Pathologist with wide ranging experience. Since encountering several unsolved problems in clinical care, I started exploring the potential applications of digital technology to enhance clinical workflow and patient outcomes. This led me to upskill in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design and helped me realise the scope of digital health transformation beyond single products.
I want to contribute to a digitally enhanced healthcare system that improves care delivery and patient outcomes. That’s why I decided to undertake the Graduate Certificate of Digital Health at La Trobe University. Helping people has always been a key driver in everything I do, so the decision to diversify my professional learning made sense to continue shaping the Australian health system as a clinician and digital health professional.
What were your favourite subjects in the course?
My favourites have been Communicating Digital Health and Digital Health Design & Implementation. I loved learning about effective digital communication and human-centred design, and how these skills can be applied to real-world healthcare challenges.
What did you find more challenging during your studies?
One of the biggest challenges was discovering that there are rarely straightforward answers in digital health. Coming from a speech pathology background, I’m used to solving clinical problems within my scope, but this course has shown me how complex and interdisciplinary digital health really is. Digital health is a multi-faceted discipline that involves system-wide change in policy, data governance, strategy, IT infrastructure, and workforce management—not just a new tool or workflow.
It’s also been challenging, in a positive way, to engage with areas I’ve had little prior exposure to, such as high-level strategic planning. Learning to think beyond individual clinical solutions and consider system-wide implementation has broadened my perspective and helped me appreciate the collaboration required to create meaningful digital health change.
Please share a bit about yourself – what do you like to do in your free time?
In my spare time, I enjoy arts and crafts (crochet is a current favourite!), listening to podcasts, and spending time with family and friends. I also lead the Digital Health Society communications team, where I create content and promote events that bring students from different disciplines together. In a field like digital health, building connection and shared understanding early is so important, and I’ve loved combining my interests in creative design, communication, and digital health.
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
In five years, I’d like to be working clinically while also contributing to digital health projects that improve healthcare delivery. I’m especially interested in being involved in initiatives such as EMR rollouts/optimisation and workflow redesign, helping translate frontline insights into practical digital solutions that support better care.
At La Trobe University, students of the Graduate Certificate in Digital Health complete their studies equipped to lead meaningful change in healthcare. Combining practical insights with digital innovation, they are industry-ready to shape healthcare delivery with clinical skills, technical fluency, and strategic thinking.
Learn more about La Trobe’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health course or get in touch with our team of Enrolment Advisors via (+61 3) 9917 3009 or onlinecourses@latrobe.edu.au.