Health Care Informatics

Chad Powell’s first experience as a Regis student came in 2010 when he earned his B.S. in Nursing from the University. As a nurse, he discovered the electronic health record system at the hospital reignited his love for technology, and he developed a passion for applying data-driven knowledge to improving patient health outcomes.

Chad returned to Regis in 2018 to pursue the M.S. Health Informatics degree, augmenting his broad clinical experience as a nurse with a deeper understanding of technology and the power of information in health care settings. He now works as a Clinical Informatics and Data Team Manager at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute Medical Group.

You’ve studied both nursing and health informatics at Regis. How do these experiences impact your work today?
I’ve worn a few hats over the years; I’m a jack of all trades and people often come to me for answers. The majority of my job today is with electronic health records systems — blood cancer treatment and protocols are some of the most complicated I’ve ever seen in medicine.

What drew you to return to Regis to further your education?
One of the main reasons I decided to [return to] Regis was the small class sizes and individualized attention from faculty. Classes were uplifting and hands-on, professors are great and class sizes are ideal.

Did you find online classes helpful in earning your degree?
I thought I wasn’t well suited for online [classes], but it quickly became the strongest feature of the program. I could study at my own pace and manage my workload around my schedule.

How did the Regis program prepare you to make a career shift into health informatics?
What we were being taught is on the edge of what’s about to happen in health care. We focused on the forefront of what’s new and what’s to come. This absolutely gave me a leg up.