by Giulliana Micheletto
When health care workers came to the University of Toronto to recruit Science students to assist with implementing the new hospital information system and get hands-on experience in the healthcare sector, Seema saw it as an invaluable opportunity and did not anticipate her plans taking an unexpected turn. However, that’s exactly what happened.
Just two years into her Life Sciences degree at the University of Toronto, Seema’s life transformed in 2020 with the emergence of COVID-19. At first, she was scared and reluctant to leave her house especially since she was about to start a new job at the hospital, but she overcame that anxiety once she realized the impact her work had on others.
“Seeing the impact the vaccine had on people, it motivated me every day to go to work and pick up more shifts(…) I noticed that I feel more passionate and more fulfilled when I am serving the community, especially working from a digital and data perspective.”
Seema’s role at Trillium Health Partners was within the IT department of the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. Over time, she advanced to a position where she led information dissemination and project execution for community vaccination efforts at both Credit Valley Hospital and mobile clinics. This experience marked a turning point for her.
“Sometimes you think you need to know everything and that things will go as planned, but life just isn’t like that (…) I thought I was going to be a researcher and then my time at the hospital changed everything.”
While working on her thesis about Chagas disease alongside her role in the vaccine clinics, she discovered a burgeoning interest in Health Information Technology. “I remember bringing it up to my mentors [how I felt more connected working in the hospital] and asking around for advice on pursuing a master’s program. I was advised to do some research in the area of my [interest] and I am glad I did.”
As a result of that decision, Seema completed her master’s degree in health informatics at the University of Waterloo, a discipline focused on leveraging IT to enhance the healthcare system.
“Looking back in high school, I wasn’t even aware this field existed (…)If I could tell my grade 12 self something it would probably be to stop worrying and stop rushing, enjoy the process of where you are going.”
Seema Kharab is currently a Data Acquisition Specialist at Ontario Health. While she enjoys applying her skills, some of which she developed through high school volunteering, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing her ongoing evolution. “My position [at the Ontario Health] has more to do with interdisciplinary collaboration and relationship management, which I love (…) but till this day I am trying to figure out where exactly in healthcare I fit in, and that’s okay.”