In 2014, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Harvard Clinical Informatics Seminar—a deep-dive week of lectures, debates, and networking that felt like Comic-Con for healthcare IT professionals. Only instead of capes and cosplay, we had badges and browser-based dashboards.
One of the absolute highlights? Meeting Dr. John Halamka.
For years, Halamka had been a sort of North Star for me in the chaotic galaxy of Healthcare IT. CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, MD, tech evangelist, and a seemingly tireless innovator, he wasn’t just ahead of the curve—he was the curve. So, getting to shake his hand and thank him for inspiring a generation of informatics leaders was surreal. (Yes, I fanboyed a little. No regrets.)
Dr. Halamka spoke with his signature blend of speed, substance, and sly wit. Whether he was talking about EHR interoperability or future-forward AI, the guy made complex problems sound solvable—and even kind of fun. He didn’t just talk about innovation; he modeled it. As someone working to modernize clinical systems and steer large-scale implementations, I left Boston more fired up than ever to make systems smarter, data more actionable, and patient care better supported.
That week at Harvard didn’t just add bullet points to my resume. It added fuel to the fire. And meeting a Healthcare IT legend like Dr. Halamka? That was a bucket-list moment I didn’t even know I had.
Takeaway: Never underestimate what a few days of inspiration (and a handshake with your hero) can do for your career trajectory.
