Health Informatics Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Michael Wolf

Meet Dr. Michael E. Wolf, MSHI Class of 2017

Current Position: 

Senior Associate Consultant, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine
Mayo Clinic

How do you use health informatics in your current position?

I am a faculty member at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and I use health informatics and data science daily in my research. I use large data sets to understand human performance and productivity measures within the workforce. I also use electronic health record (EHR) data associated with workers’ compensation claims to attempt to predict return to work and its related economic impact upon businesses.

What was the most valuable part of the MSHI program?

I have worked in health informatics for a long time and was drawn to MUSC because of its reputation as a medical school. Coupled with my prior experience, earning this degree contributed to my gaining eligibility to sit for the Clinical Informatics Subspecialty Board Examination from the American Board of Preventive Medicine.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in health informatics?

Health informatics is critical to where health and science are going. It touches all aspects of health care delivery in the present era. I would encourage a prospective student to consider the broad potential of where the field can take you. Having a more robust background in informatics and health information technology can only improve your ability to navigate health care complexities.