26
COM Outlook . Winter 2015
entitled “Self-Change: Randomized
Control Trial of an iPhone App Using
an Evidence-Based Alcohol Interven-
tion” at the 47
th
annual meeting of the
Association for Behavioral and Cogni-
tive Therapies (ABCT) held November
21-24, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The poster illustrated research on
addictive or alcohol-related behaviors
and received the prestigious ABCT
Addictive Behaviors SIG Outstanding
Student Poster Award. The project was
funded by an NSU President’s Faculty
Research and Development Grant.
Recent graduate Troy Rubi-
zovsky, M.S.B.I. (’14) also worked
with Dr. Lou and Steve E. Brons-
burg, Ph.D., M.S., M.H.S.A.—the
co-primary investigators—to build
the mobile app, which included
developing story boards, produc-
ing a basic layout of the application,
creating a detailed design, program-
ming the initial app, field-testing the
program, making adjustments based
of the field-test results, and activat-
ing it for study participants.
Teamwork is paramount in the
Biomedical Informatics program,
and department members are dedi-
cated to recruitment, creating new
courses and practices, representa-
tion at health fairs, participating
in professional presentations, and
collaboration on research. In regard
to research, Dr. Bronsburg said he
is preparing a paper for publication
to highlight details of the aforemen-
tioned mobile app.
With hopes to build a larger
group of those ready to meet the
future health care needs of a grow-
ing and aging population, Dr. Lou
is working on a proposal to create
a Ph.D. in Biomedical Informatics.
Such development will enhance
research and training in clinical
informatics concepts, methods, and
tools in order to analyze, design,
implement, and evaluate informa-
tion and communication systems
that promote safer, more efficient,
effective, timely, patient-centered,
and equitable care.
Graduates already know the
program is an investment that
pays—and pays well. According to
a national survey, the median salary
in the health information technology
field has increased in direct relation
to the need of the specialty, with
graduates starting at $85,000 and
many physicians earning $250,000.
“We are constantly revamping the
program by identifying what skills
are most sought by employers,”
Dr. Lou said. “There is a tsunami of
information out there.”
With intelligence, talent, and
technology, Dr. Lou and her team
are committed to training students to
ride the waves.
“NSU’s Biomedical Informatics Program gave me the tools and knowledge to
navigate the health informatics industry with confidence. It prepared me to provide
meaningful contributions to seasoned professionals and organizations. Two years
after graduating, my relationship with the program is still going strong.” –
Teresa
Blanco, M.S.B.I.
(’12), who is currently living in Kansas City, Missouri, and work-
ing for Cerner as a charge services support analyst
“The training is on target to meet a single goal: The right information, to the right
person, at the right time.” –
April M. Green, M.S.B.I.
(’13)
“This program allowed me to gain the experience I needed in order to follow the
career path I wanted to take.” –
Anthony Meglino, M.S.B.I., NCP
(’14),
a Next-
Gen EHR template developer consultant at Dell
“The program helped me turn an adversary into an opportunity. Tenacity and a
strong drive led to my success in the Biomedical Informatics Program and in my
world.” –
Stephen Amoah, M.S.B.I.
(’14)
Alumni Testimonials
