Degree of Discoveries – Transitioning from Grad School to the Digital Mental Health Lab
That’s a wrap! I’m grateful to have finally concluded my career as a student, having handed in the last of the coursework required to complete my Master of Health Informatics (MHI) degree.
In September 2022, I started my journey in the MHI program at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. During my time in the program, I have come to understand what it takes to build and maintain digital health information systems which effectively meet the needs of clinicians and patients alike. Most importantly, the MHI program provided me with the opportunity to gain real-world insight and establish professional connections in the field through a practicum placement. It is through the MHI practicum that I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the lab and gain experience as a Project Analyst from the spring of 2023 until now. This opportunity has been nothing short of amazing, and I have gained much expertise from working on a multitude of projects alongside a team of knowledgeable and highly skilled colleagues (including some fellow MHI alumni).
I am grateful that my practicum empowered me to apply the knowledge I acquired during the MHI program to an actual clinical setting. I was able to observe the effects of clinical informatics, implementation science, and mental health research thanks to the variety of work I took on during my practicum – including supporting the IDEA Study and BeWell text-based program. I also had the opportunity to showcase BeWell at CAMH, by presenting a project research poster at the KCNI Open House’s Trainee Spotlight event.
It seems that even before I knew of my would-be connection to CAMH, the seeds of what was to come were evident. During my first semester of the MHI program I had the pleasure of being instructed by our lab lead, Dr. Gillian Strudwick. And during my final term, I was instructed by the lab’s knowledgeable Project Scientist, Dr. Nelson Shen. I am thrilled to now be a part of the Digital Mental Health lab and am honoured to be able to continue to be mentored and learn from this wonderful research team. I am grateful that my journey of lifelong learning will now be outside the classroom and on the job at CAMH!
Written by: Charlotte Pape
January 2024