Maile Sakamoto MS'24 always knew she wanted to make a difference in people's lives through health care, but she didn't realize that data was a tool for her impact. After working as a medical assistant, Sakamoto decided he wanted to invest in his passion for data analysis and enrolled in Willamette's Top Rank Master's Data Science Program. Coursework spanning data ethics, cybersecurity, and applied machine learning has gained Sakamoto the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the job market. Now she's working as an informaticsist for health insurance giant Humana.
“As a healthcare data analyst, I can evaluate programs to improve medication accessibility for Medicare and Medicaid members,” says Sakamoto. “It feels like a real meaningful job to work together between teams and find ways to make medicine affordable.”
Sakamoto's ability to take on this important job comes from the knowledge and experience gained in Willamette's 12-month MSDS program. “I always felt that there was time for individual questions and growth because I had the opportunity to develop closer relationships with my professors in a small learning environment,” she says.
Evening classes at Willamette's Portland campus allowed Sakamoto to work as a data science intern at PacificSource Health during the day while diving into data analysis at night. Kristen Gore, an assistant professor of data science, gave Sakamoto a rigorous introduction to important analytical tools and concepts in the fundamentals of data science with R.
“I've learned a lot, even in classes that aren't directly related to what I'm doing now,” Sakamoto adds. “There were so many topics covered in every class, so they all blend very well. Every class helps in its own way.”
With her advanced degree and data science application skills, Sakamoto sees a world of opportunities to promote her personal mission to improve her life in a healthcare setting.
“My degree helped me land a job where I could see myself growing for years to come,” says Sakamoto. “The healthcare system is flawed, but I have always seen it as an area where there is an opportunity to give back to the community and those around you. Meaningful change comes from people who are passionate about it and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute. Knowing that I am benefiting from my work, I will be working hard, being more meticulous, and staying up to date with new strategies and techniques.”
