Challenge
Collecting, cleaning and reporting data using inefficient surveillance systems consumes valuable health worker time that could be spent on analysis and public health action.
Approach
I joined the CDC as Product Strategy Lead for two critical data modernization products - SimpleReport and DIBBs (Data Integration Building Blocks)
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Rapid Analysis
Identified key barriers and success factors for jurisdictional adoption of these critical public health data tools.
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Stakeholder Engagement
Worked with diverse stakeholders including product development teams, CDC leadership, and national partner organizations (APHL and CSTE) to understand how to best align needs and priorities around these tools.
Key Discoveries
Infrastructure & Skill Capacity
Public health departments have diverse access to technology, infrastructure and skills. We must match our approach to each department's unique capabilities to ensure projects launch successfully and remain sustainable long-term.
Burden Reduction Drives Adoption
Tools need to concretely help public health workers do their jobs better. The problem we are solving needs to be urgent enough to drive effort needed to implement solutions.
Multi-Stakeholder Alignment
Aligning priorities across technical teams, operational users, and leadership accelerates adoption and leads to more successful implementation of software.
Lessons Learned
During my brief tenure at CDC, I developed a comprehensive understanding of DIBBs and SimpleReport and their potential to modernize public health infrastructure. I recognized that a tool's impact is determined by how quickly and widely it is adopted, which hinges on deeply understanding end-users and their needs. These insights reinforced the importance of aligning stakeholders and addressing user pain points to drive meaningful adoption of public health data systems.