Staff Profile
John: Clinical Information Systems
Describe your job at Dana-Farber.
I'm the team leader for CORIS, which stands for Clinical, Operations, and Research Information Systems. My team collects information about patients, such as demographics and research protocols, creates reports for staff, and generates all Dana-Farber patient mailing lists. We integrate data from several other systems at Dana-Farber, such as IDX, which is used for patient registration, scheduling, and billing. One of our major initiatives this year is to include data from our partnering institutions in our database. So if you need general information on patients, my group can provide it or connect you with someone else.
What led you to this type of work?
I was a psychology major in college and considered applying to medical school, but as a senior I worked on a new software system for a doctor's office and decided I preferred this type of work. After getting my MBA, I began working in information systems (IS). I came to Dana-Farber in 1990, and have found that one of the best things about working here is that everyone is committed to the common mission of cancer care and research. My colleagues in IS and throughout Dana-Farber are talented, dedicated, team-oriented, and fun to work with — kind of like the Red Sox!
Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know.
I'm the father of four girls, three of whom are fraternal triplets. Mary is 13, and Kathleen, Meghan, and Sheila are 8.
How do you balance your work and family life?
Here in IS, we have a process for approving projects so that we focus on top priorities. I'd like to find a way to prioritize at home, too, but it's not easy. I try to get home to Foxboro in time for dinner every night, and I always put the triplets to bed. Our girls are very active in sports and other activities, so my wife, Terry, and I have a lot of juggling to do.
