Get to know Associate Professor Dilhari DeAlmeida, Health Informatics, and how she plans to transform the field through her new roles with Pitt SHRS.
How long have you worked at Pitt and in what capacity?
I have worked at Pitt for a total of almost 20 years and in several roles. I started in 2002 as a research specialist with the Department of Pediatric Surgery and then with the Center for Vaccine Research. While working in vaccine research, I became interested in the intersection between health care and technology. I developed a passion that led me to pursue the MS/RHIA option program right after I gave birth to my twin sons. After earning my master’s degree in 2009, I continued with my doctoral studies and earned my PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. I was thrilled and honored to be offered a full-time faculty position in the Department of HIM soon after graduation and have been with this wonderful department ever since. I am currently an associate professor and vice chair of education and the program director for the newly redesigned Undergraduate Program in Health Informatics.
Tell us about your newest role in the department.
I started two new roles in the department: vice chair of Education and program director of the undergraduate program. I want to thank my amazing mentor, Valerie Watzlaf, who was in this role before me. I am excited and look forward to working in this new role and advancing our programs. This role will give me the opportunity to smoothly run our educational programs as well as look for additional resources and opportunities for our students. We have a graduate program in Health Informatics, with four different tracks and four certificate options in addition to the undergraduate program in health informatics. As part of the role, I get the wonderful opportunity to work with the administration, our full-time and part-time faculty and staff members.
Tell us about your goals in your new position.
My main goal is to continue to engage in the high quality and competitive curriculum that we provide to our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. My second goal is to expand the undergraduate program offering to feature online options while maintaining the high standards of the traditional in-person program.
What is your vision and goal for the HI programs and department?
My goals for the department are to promote our programs across the world and to reach greater and broader audiences. I look forward to continuing our professional collaboration with state, national and international associations in both HIM and HI.