Too much health data. Too little time.
But what if there was one place to sort through health data from around the world?
That’s been the mission of the BioHealth Informatics Research Center’s Database Project at IU’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indianapolis.
The project streamlines access to health data for academic research and grant proposals. It’s also provided nearly 200 Luddy Indianapolis students with practical learning experiences.
Pratyush Kanungo, who serves as student project manager, says the goal of the BioHealth Informatics Research Center (BHIRC) is to make data simple and understandable for everyone, even those without prior data knowledge.
“Imagine searching ‘COVID’ and instantly accessing information across diverse topics, from case counts to vaccine progress, causes to cures. It’s all about accessibility,” says Kanungo, who will graduate with his M.S. in Health Informatics from the Luddy School this year.
Centralized resource for health information
Launched in fall 2021, the student-led Database Project has created a comprehensive global database of publicly available health data that serves both faculty and students at Indiana University.
The Luddy School’s BioHealth Informatics Research Center is preparing to launch a website that will allow wider access to the database. “We wanted to get a sufficient amount of data and have a UX/UI system that was glitch-free before moving it to the public,” says BHIRC Director Gary Schwebach (pictured above from left with BioHealth graduate students Kanungo, Thrinithi Polsani, and Narendrareddy Munagala).
The project’s purpose is to develop a global health data repository for use in research, teaching, and project development. This one-stop health information resource, Kanungo notes, will enable users with a wide array of academic and professional inquiries to easily find data on any relevant topic.
The database supports national, state, and topical exploration for developing comprehensive health care insights,” Kanungo says.
It contains diverse, published health care data, including government policies, medical capabilities, patient demographics, and educational resources. Also included are detailed disease-specific datasets covering prevalence, risk factors, outcomes, costs, and global comparisons.
Students gain experience working with SQL, a standard language for working with data in databases. The project also is designed to give students a full-fledged database education by providing hands-on experience and a work environment that reflects industry practices.
“BHIRC represents a transformative experience, where we’re not only learning but also creating meaningful change,” says Narendrareddy Munagala, who serves as a team lead.
Schwebach, a Health Informatics professor of practice, notes, “Students who have little experience in the practical aspects of working with databases can learn the ins and outs of working with real world data in the SQL environment, which is commonly used in health care settings, while building something of value for the school.
“This prepares them for their first job experience outside of the academic setting.”
Students benefit from the process and product
The rigorous work Luddy Indianapolis students put in on the Database Project mirrors real-world health informatics applications. To ensure students are well prepared, the BioHealth Informatics Research Center includes a structured training program with modules offered through Indiana University’s LinkedIn Learning platform.
“Over the past year, I developed expertise in SQL, Python, and Power BI, all crucial for managing large health care datasets,” says Sachin Bhai Bhut, one of the Health Informatics M.S. students working on the database.
“This project honed my ability to extract key insights and visualize data effectively.”
The project operates without external funding, relying on internal resources for student compensation. Schwebach, who has doctorates in law and business administration, manages the project; Robyn Hart, senior assistant to the chair, Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, oversees student employment and logistics.
“This database was designed and built by students through the BHIRC using departmental funding,” says Schwebach, “which allows us to provide our students with a rich experiential environment on a timeline that is conducive for learning while giving them a full range of opportunities, from design and implementation to quality control and assurance.
“The only downside is that it takes longer to complete than a customary project.”
A career development experience
Health Informatics students say their involvement in the Database Project provides valuable hands-on experience, enhances their skill set, and builds their professional network, significantly improving their job prospects.
“This experience has prepared me for future coursework and equipped me with valuable experience for job interviews,” notes Likhitha Arigala.
And, says Archita Singamsetty, “Managing health care data has reinforced the importance of accuracy, critical for data-driven health care decisions.”
Their work on the database has given students an understanding of what a career in health informatics can entail.
“This project demonstrates complex database work,” explains Kushal Jayesh Pancholi, “aligning well with clinical decision support and health care data analytics roles.”
And Bioinformatics M.S. student Mahima Mahabaleshwar Siddheshwar adds, “My contributions reflect my commitment to precision and meaningful analysis in health care.”
Schwebach says recent graduates who’ve participated in the BHIRC Database Project now are working, often as is data or clinic data analysts, for employers including:
- Indiana State Department of Health
- Connecticut State Department of Health
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Stanford University School of Medicine
- Rush University Medical Center
- Washington University of St. Louis School of Medicine
“Our program has a high employment rate in health informatics of 90%,” Schwebach notes.
A graduate’s perspective
“Serving as the team lead for the BHIRC Database Project during Fall and Spring 2024 was a pivotal experience for me,” says Divya Gottimukkula, who graduated this year with her M.S. in Health Informatics.
Gottimukkula says her work on the project gave her a unique opportunity to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications in the field of health informatics.
“Leading a team of researchers and overseeing the data collection process not only enhanced my technical skills, such as database management and analytics,” she says, “but also strengthened my leadership and communication abilities. The experience was invaluable in preparing me for my degree and my current career path.”
She sees the database as a significant tool for health data analysts. “Its ability to consolidate state, federal, and international data provides a comprehensive platform for deriving meaningful insights,” Gottimukkula says. “I believe this resource will greatly assist professionals in identifying trends, improving patient outcomes, and informing policy decisions in the biohealth field.”
Preparing for a future in health informatics
BHIRC developed student training for the health information Database Project with feedback from Indiana employers about desired workforce skills. Top-performing students work as team leads, gaining managerial experience that is often a stepping stone to leadership roles in their careers.
Constant improvement is a priority for the Database Project. Students now are looking ahead to how they can improve the database for easier data integration and updates, for example. Other goals include an intuitive interface that will streamline analytics and visualization tools for seamless user experiences, and developing a visual, interactive website to enhance data accessibility.
“Building structured, scalable databases empowered me with adaptability, critical in today’s data-driven market,” says Health Informatics M.S. student Vijay Kumar Gaddam.
Fellow student Thrinithi Polsani, a team lead, began working on the Database Project in fall 2023. “By spring 2024, stepping into a team lead role allowed me to grow in both skills and confidence, thanks to the supportive team around me,” Polsani says.
“BHIRC not only advances open-source health data but also shapes students’ future in this data-driven world, making a meaningful impact at Indiana University and beyond.”
By the numbers
193
Student who’ve participated in the BioHealth Informatics Research Center’s Database Project
38
Number of states whose data has been incorporated into the database (along with data from 22 federal and 89 international sources)
500
Approximate number of datasets now part of the BHIRC Database
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
jebehele@iu.edu
317-278-9208