Alumni Profiles Series: Tsai-Wei Wang

Tsai-Wei Wang is a senior statistician focusing on infection prevention in the Clinical Quality Analytics team at Advocate Health, which was previously in the Carolina healthcare system. In her current role, she provides deep-dive custom analytics to support physician leaders across regions. She was part of the first cohort of the Department of Population Health Science at Duke, where she spent two years pursuing her M.S. degree.

What influenced your choice of Duke and your program?

I think Pop Health is a great program for everyone with a healthcare background to learn about different aspects of the healthcare industry. Prior to joining this program, I practiced as a pharmacist in Taiwan. I appreciated the opportunity to engage with the healthcare system from various perspectives, including policy, data programming, and clinical practice. What I appreciate most about Pop Health is its insight into the practical aspects of healthcare. Learning how hospital initiatives are implemented and their impact on patient health outcomes is crucial for those of us not on the front lines.

What experiences led you to your current career?

Before joining this program, I had an interest in epidemiology. During my master's studies, I encountered programming tools and statistical knowledge, which led me to pursue further learning in these areas. To gain insight into working in the industry, I talked to someone currently employed in that field and asked them about their typical day, as my expectations might not match reality. Company websites are also valuable resources for obtaining detailed job descriptions. In my experience, classmates pursued various roles after graduation, indicating that there are numerous opportunities available within the healthcare industry for diverse career paths.

Duke University offers numerous job-searching sessions that are accessible to all graduate students and are highly advantageous for career development. These workshops provide opportunities to network with peers from various disciplines, exchange valuable information, and become acquainted with diverse topics. Additionally, we had a career development course in Population Health taught by Professor Asheley Skinner, who kindly shared her experiences and insights, offering practical advice.

Can you share your career path?

For my capstone project, I collaborated with Professor Hayden Bosworth to analyze health initiatives related to a pharmacy program focused on chronic diseases. It was an extensive project where I served as a data analyst, assisting the team in coordinating meeting notes and developing research plans. This experience provided me with valuable insights into the role and responsibilities of a data analyst. In class, our data was well-organized, clean, and easy to work with; however, the situation changed in real-life applications. Considerable time must be spent wrangling the data and clarifying topics with colleagues. I greatly value these experiences.

I've been at my company for three years, initially working as a health services researcher. My role involved data analysis and research, including logistic regression and descriptive analysis, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors. We look at the demographic factors, socioeconomic factors (which are popular topics nowadays), and clinical factors of the population we are interested in. In my current position as a statistician dedicated to infection prevention, I appreciate the opportunity to work on modeling and numerous statistically focused projects with different colleagues.  

I take great pride in my job. Although I stay busy, receiving gratitude and acknowledgment from clients for assisting with their projects gives me a sense of accomplishment. My favorite part is working with my colleagues, who are extremely pleasant and friendly. Since it is impossible to know everything, team discussions offer valuable insights on feasible actions, reasons some things might not be possible, and ways I can help improve team performance. For example, we often connect the tasks of nurses and clinicians with data documentation. Through the analysis, we can identify inconsistencies in documentation, which helps us enhance processes and clinical workflows, ultimately improving healthcare quality. Additionally, I have learned about policy by following CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] guidelines, allowing us to adjust our work according to government requirements. Each day brings new learning opportunities, which can be challenging at times. However, solving problems with my colleagues gives me a deep sense of fulfillment.

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How do you balance your work and daily life?

Effective time management involves prioritizing tasks and estimating the required time and effort. Once you can plan your work, managing everything becomes easier. For me, maintaining work-life balance is straightforward, as I prefer to avoid late-night work. I typically complete tasks early, allowing me to work at a comfortable pace.

I enjoy jogging in my spare time; it refreshes me when I'm exhausted. At Duke, I loved the beautiful trails and the scenery along the way. Being an outdoor person, I find it helpful to get outside, leave my computer, and reset my mind.

What advice would you like to share with current graduate students?

Step out of your comfort zone to discover your passion and unexpected opportunities. Stay open-minded, learn new things, and know what you want. If you're not enjoying your work in the long run, let your passion guide you through challenges and advance your career.

What is your favorite memory of Duke?

The first time I received a ticket for a basketball game at Duke University, I observed the enthusiasm of the undergraduates, who were highly passionate about basketball. Standing in the stadium and hearing the crowd's spirited cheers was truly exhilarating. Reflecting on my time at Duke, I can confidently say that every moment, whether spent with individuals or engaging in various activities, remains a cherished memory.

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AUTHOR

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Yuwei Xu

Master’s student, Population Health Sciences

Yuwei Xu received her bachelor of medicine degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China. She chose population health sciences because it provides a comprehensive view of health, especially regarding mental health and medical worker health conditions, which are areas she is particularly passionate about. She has two years of experience as a medical intern in Renji East Hospital in Shanghai, China, and Shanghai Mental Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she developed an in-depth understanding of the frontline healthcare work environment. She also led two research projects on the prognosis of cervical cancer and neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder in both the U.S. and China. Currently, she is dedicated to studying health issues among female healthcare workers. Outside of academics, Yuwei loves games and cooking, and her favorite sport is skiing.