Meet the Sparked Technical Co-Chairs: Megan Doherty
Meet Megan Doherty – Director Software Engineering at the Australian Digital Health Agency, and an AU eRequesting Technical Design Group Co-Chair.
The newest member of the technical design group co-chairs, Megan joins the Sparked team as an interim co-chair for the eRequesting TDG. Prior to her current role as the Director of Software Engineering at ADHA, Megan was involved in a variety of technical roles in acute health care settings. With her extensive technical background, Megan will work alongside the TDG and hopes to deliver quality work that can be implemented across the digital health industry. With a unique knowledge base and skillset, Megan is a fantastic addition to the Sparked community and we are grateful to have her!
We spoke to Megan about her involvement with Sparked, here is what she had to say!
🤔 What is your working background?
I’m currently the Director of Software Engineering at the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Prior to working at the Agency I held various technical roles in an acute health care setting such as a Senior Director for Technical Applications and support as well as a Senior Technical Project Management. Both of these rules required me to provide technical guidance and integration support/advice across various stakeholders.
🤔 How did you become involved with Sparked?
Heard about Sparked when I commenced at the Australian Digital Health Agency and was interested to see how I could make a difference
🤔 What is your role within Sparked?
My role within Sparked is the interim Co-Chair for eRequesting
🤔 What does Sparked mean to you?
I see Sparked as a crucial component in enhancing coordinated care. By enabling healthcare
providers to share more comprehensive and transparent information, the initiative allows for better interoperability between software solutions. This improved data sharing fosters a deeper understanding of patients’ clinical journeys, minimises the need for redundant tests or explanations, and ultimately leads to better patient outcomes
🤔 What is something that you hope to achieve within the Sparked program?
Making sure we delivery quality work that can be implemented within the Agency and across the Digital Health Industry. I will bring my experience in the use and management of clinical systems to ensure workflow requirements are considered in the specifications.
🤔 How is the Sparked program different to projects you’ve been involved in before?
While I have experience in applying standards in the health environment, I have not had
experience in a standards accelerator.
🤔 What’s been your favourite part of working within the Sparked team?
A collaborative environment with a passion to improve interoperability and sharing of
Information.🤔
🤔 What would you tell someone wanting to learn more about the Sparked project?
Take a look at the website find the areas of interest to you and become a part of such an
important part of digital health progressing to achieve interoperability
🤔 How will the goals and outcomes of the Sparked Program impact your field/industry/profession?
Sparked will drive the development of the FHIR standard to ensure my profession are able
to be achieved improved connected care.
🤔 What’s your favourite Sparked/FHIR pun?
The one FHIR we want to spread?