Master of Digital Health Student Spotlight: Christin Lao
| 3 Min Read
La Trobe University’s Master of Digital Health is equipping professionals with the hands-on experience needed to deliver innovative digital solutions and improve healthcare delivery. For Christin Lao, a current La Trobe student and registered nurse with front-line experience in emergency care and clinical trials, the course presented an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of change in healthcare.
What motivated you to undertake the Master of Digital Health?
For some time, I wasn’t sure of how to progress after years in nursing. I wasn’t interested in simply following the expected postgraduate track; I yearned for something more dynamic, exciting and fundamentally different. I reflected on my professional motivations: why emergency nursing, and then why the shift to clinical trials? The answer wasn’t about the specific role or clinical area, but rather a consistent pull towards the next new and exciting thing, an eagerness to be at the forefront of change and innovation. This realisation ultimately led to asking myself where I can find this in healthcare, and this led me to digital health.
What have been your favourite subjects in the course so far?
I really enjoyed the subjects with Design Concepts, such as design thinking, user experience (UX), and interaction design (IxD). As a clinician and coming from a strong science and health background, I had very little knowledge of the arts. I did not realise that it was possible for these areas to intersect and how applicable the knowledge offered in these courses would be.
What have you found most challenging in the course so far?
I think the subjects requiring coding and more technical skills were probably the most challenging. But my lecturers and peers were very helpful and made the process very easy. I do believe that they are essential skills that can be very useful in prospective jobs in digital health in the future.
Please share a bit about yourself – what do you like to do in your free time?
I usually plan my activities depending on how much free time I have. I love hiking and travelling, and hiking while travelling! I love seeing new places and experiencing new things! Again, as I mentioned earlier, I love the new and exciting!
How did the program help to develop your skills and prepare you for your current role?
The program has been invaluable in equipping and supporting me in my current role as a Clinical Safety Lead for the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA). Not only has it provided me with the core skills I need to function day-to-day, but it has also allowed me to understand the dynamics in the workplace, why specific activities are required, the roles of the individuals involved and how everyone can collaborate to succeed in our goals.
Are there any examples you can think of in the coursework that have influenced your ability to get the role you’re now in?
I think the user personas and journey maps really enhanced my ability to unpack the pain points and advocate for the consumers. It has also empowered me to leverage my knowledge and skills as a clinician – and potentially as the user as well – to identify faults and issues in digital health systems that could compromise clinical safety in healthcare spaces.
Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time?
Five years is a long time for me to think about. But if I were to be very ambitious, I would love to be working while travelling overseas. It would be very interesting to see what other countries are doing in healthcare spaces and their digital health initiatives. This will help broaden my perspective and perhaps provide me with some ideas on how we can address gaps in the current state of digital health in Australia.
Learn more about La Trobe’s online Master of Digital Health course or get in touch with our team of Enrolment Advisors via (+61 3) 9917 3009 or onlinecourses@latrobe.edu.au.