Dr. Dorothy O’Hagan serves as the Academic Director for the Master of Science in Health Care Informatics program and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of San Digeo Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.
Dr. O’Hagan earned her PhD in Leadership Studies and her master’s degree in Leadership and Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego. Her dissertation, Investigating the Impact of Employment and Demographic Factors on Health Among Bereaved Adults: A Quantitative Approach, examined bereavement, employment-related factors, and self-reported health among working-age adults. Her doctoral work reflects her broader interest in leadership, workplace support, health, and the human side of healthcare organizations.
Dr. O’Hagan is a Registered Health Information Administrator and Certified Coding Specialist. She also holds a BA in Health Administration and an AS in Medical Record Technology. Before joining USD full-time, she served as Senior Director of Clinical and Health Information Systems at Rady Children’s Health. In that role, she oversaw Epic, the organization’s electronic health record, as well as other clinical and health information systems that supported care delivery, documentation, communication, data exchange, reporting, and daily clinical operations.
Dr. O’Hagan has more than 30 years of experience leading healthcare projects, teams, and information systems. During her career at Rady Children’s Health, she served in several roles, including Coding Manager, Cancer Registrar, Hospital Billing and Collections Manager, EMR Systems Analyst, Director of Health Information, Chief Privacy Officer, and leader for interoperability and documentation excellence. These roles gave her a broad view of how health information moves through an organization and how documentation, data quality, system design, workflow, and communication affect both clinical teams and patients.
Her professional work has focused on electronic health records, health information exchange, patient identity matching, documentation integrity, interoperability, revenue cycle, and the use of health information to support safe and effective care. She has served on national workgroups focused on patient identity matching and interoperability, and was an elected member of Epic’s Electronic Medical Record International Care Everywhere Governance Council from 2013 to 2016.
Do you have any particular areas of interest/specialization related to health care informatics?
I am passionate about healthcare informatics and my goal is to advance healthcare technology in ways that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. I have spent my career leading teams in clinical applications, interoperability, health information management, privacy and security. I thrive on optimizing clinical workflows and ensuring that health systems integrate seamlessly. Protecting patient information and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards are at the heart of my work.
What motivated your interest in serving on the advisory board for the MS-HCI program? What are you hoping to contribute?
As the program director for the MS-HCI program, I am dedicated to ensuring our program remains relevant and strategically focused for our students. My goal is to keep our curriculum and initiatives aligned with the latest advancements in healthcare informatics, preparing our students to excel in this dynamic field.
What advice do you have for anyone interested in advancing their career in health care informatics?
For those looking to advance their career in healthcare informatics, I recommend focusing on a few key areas:
Continuous Learning: Healthcare informatics is a rapidly evolving field. Stay updated with the latest technologies, standards, and best practices through courses, certifications, and attending industry conferences.
Develop Technical and Analytical Skills: Proficiency in data analytics, understanding of EHR systems, and knowledge of interoperability standards are crucial. Skills in data management can also be highly beneficial.
Gain Practical Experience: Hands-on experience through internships, projects, or roles in healthcare settings will give you invaluable insights into real-world challenges and solutions.
Network and Collaborate: Join professional organizations, attend seminars, and connect with peers and mentors in the field. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and provide support and guidance.
Focus on Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Healthcare informatics sits at the intersection of healthcare, IT, and data science. A solid understanding of clinical workflows, patient care, and regulatory environments, combined with technical expertise, will make you a well-rounded professional.
Prioritize Patient-Centered Solutions: Always keep in mind that the ultimate goal of healthcare informatics is to improve patient outcomes. Solutions that enhance patient care, safety, and satisfaction will always be in demand.