The path Dr. Hy Pham ’09 took to becoming a physician was not straightforward, and his current foray into the Online M.S. in Data Science program at the University of Notre Dame has not been, either.

However, he’s already excited about the doors the program will open for him.

“Data is everywhere,” Pham said, explaining how his role as Chief Medical Informatics Officer at his hospital opened his eyes to the critical need for bridging clinical practice with health information technologies. “As a clinician, there’s data to drive good outcomes for your patients, but there’s also data from a leadership standpoint — how you’re best using your resources, managing access to care, and more.”

Pham had originally not intended to be a physician. While at Notre Dame, he made a commitment to service in the U.S. Navy through the ROTC program. His interest in medicine emerged unexpectedly during a medical mission trip during his junior year at Notre Dame.

“I was thinking more of the volunteering community service aspect,” Pham said, but that morphed into interest in the possibility of becoming a family physician. The Navy allowed him to defer his service to attend medical school, and once he completed his training, Pham began a residency in family medicine at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington.

During the past 11 years, Pham has practiced family medicine, including serving several tours and taking on leadership roles within the Navy.

“I love my patients,” Pham said. “Every interaction I have is an opportunity to make a great impact.” As a family physician, Pham has relished the long-term relationships he formed with patients, comparing himself to the “quarterback” of his patients’ care, ensuring their needs were met.

Yet, he began to wonder how he could widen his impact, particularly as his leadership responsibilities grew. He soon recognized that being a good leader today means fully understanding data and technology.

This led him to begin the online MS in Data Science program in August 2024. Although coding and data analysis are not initially part of his skill set, the professors at Notre Dame have helped him build his foundation. He was always interested in coding, but now he is enjoying it — though he sees himself on a future team as the member who will translate data, bridging the gap between technical experts and leaders who make decisions based on that data.

His goal is to leverage data to improve healthcare outcomes, especially in the environment of the military. Pham believes that the skills he is gaining in the online program at Notre Dame will provide him with a wealth of opportunities.

As he prepares to embark on a new assignment aboard the USS Harry S. Truman soon, Pham remains determined to manage the challenges of shipboard life while staying with the program.

The synchronous courses, because of his location, will be a challenge but a boon because he will take part in them before the crack of dawn on the ship.

“I think we’re going to make it work,” he said, describing how he’s working with administrators of the program so that he can complete the degree.

As an alumnus, Pham’s deep connection to Notre Dame, and commitment to including data science in his career, is clear.

“I love Notre Dame,” Pham said. “I’ve made such great friends, and the relationships I’ve built with my professors and classmates are remarkable. It’s like I’ve come full circle.”

The program is accepting applications for Fall 2025. For questions, please contact our admissions team at datascience@nd.edu and get started on your path today!

Originally published by Deanna Csomo Ferrell at science.nd.edu on October 16, 2024.