What is Medical Informatics?
Medical Informatics is the applied science at the junction of the disciplines of medicine, business and information technology, which supports the health care delivery process and promotes measurable improvements in both quality of care and cost-effectiveness.The Medical College of Wisconsin / MSOE Master of Science in Medical Informatics (MSMI) program emphasizes the applied aspect of using informatics (information science) in the health care setting. This is somewhat different than other medical informatics programs where there is a stronger emphasis on theory. We strive to provide a practical education that prepares you to effectively participate in development, implementation and management teams charged with producing information technology solutions that improve patient care and reduce the cost of care.
It is not the goal of the MSMI program to comprehensively cross train individuals from one medical informatics domain for another. We will not make doctors or nurses into network engineers or database designers or finance or management experts. Similarly, we will not prepare computer scientists or business experts for patient care.
Rather, our intent is to give our graduates the knowledge and skills to identify, recruit and work with expert resources needed for the successful project. Additionally, with six credits of electives, and a six-credit internship / research project, you will have the opportunity to gain additional expertise according to your individual academic and career goals.
Our Program is Unique
Integrating the expertise of MCW and MSOE. As a student in the MSMI program you will benefit from the areas of expertise of both MCW and MSOE through the integration of the disciplines of medicine, business and information technology.
Emphasis on business principles. The projects our graduates work on are costly and complex. Justification for such projects can only come through the development a compelling business case that is aligned with the overall organizational strategy. We want you to be able to work with the business and information technology experts to develop and defend the business case.
Emphasis on project management skills. Again, the projects that we are preparing our graduates to participate in and lead are large, expensive and complex. Successful development and implementation of information technology solutions in the health care environment requires a strict business discipline and strong project management skills.
Focus on the adult, non-traditional student. Students in this program come with an undergraduate education and several years of work experience usually in one of the three primary domains described in our working definition. You can immediately see the implications and applications of the medica linformatics course topics. All of your core classes meet once a week during the evening so that as a working professional you can fit the course work into your already busy schedule.
Also appropriate for the traditional graduate student.
Traditional students, coming directly as a graduate of an undergraduate degree program, can expect to gain a knowledge base and skill set that will allow them to participate effectively on project teams. You will find the MSMI is highly marketable in the industry. This is the first and only applied educational program of its type in the Midwest.
An up-to-date curriculum. The medical informatics program benefits from the guidance of its external advisory committee, a standing committee of business and industrial leaders who help ensure program offerings stay current with the state of industry, even as the health care environment is rapidly changing.
Additional information about the MSMI:
- Program information and curriculum track from Graduate Academic Catalog
- Admission requirements
- The MCW and MSOE advantage
- Career opportunities
- Graduation requirements
Program Director: Kim Pemble
If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact MSOE's Continuing Studies and Outreach Department.
