Ankita Ahluwalia, Master of Management in Clinical Informatics (MMCi)
Hometown, State
Irvine, California
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
MMCi’s focus on bridging clinical informatics, technology, and leadership strongly aligns with my experiences and passions, which made it an exciting fit for my professional goals. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of MMCi's excellent cohort of Healthcare IT changemakers!
Why did you choose Duke?
I chose Duke because it stood out as one of the very first programs I felt genuinely excited to apply to. From the beginning, it represented the standard I wanted to hold myself to, learning alongside the best, in a program known for shaping leaders in clinical informatics. Grateful that this program allowed me to work my extensive hours and manage MMCi curriculum where I could get the best of both worlds. Beyond that, my motivation is deeply personal. My little sister Harleen and my family have always been my greatest supporters, and I carry a strong desire to make them proud by creating meaningful, positive change in healthcare. As a working professional, I’ve seen firsthand how critical our decisions are to patient outcomes. I'm grateful to be a part of Duke's Healthcare IT changemakers.
Do you have a favorite memory from your program?
My favorite memory from the program has been chatting with the people I met along the way. Friends like Julia, Gwenyth, and so many others who made the experience truly special. Being surrounded by such a diverse and talented group, from physicians to IT professionals to students from various backgrounds, created an environment where we were constantly learning from one another. I’m especially grateful for all the incredible teaching faculty. Appreciate Randy, Catherine, and team going above and beyond to support us and even kept us energized with meals and candy along the way as well! Time flew by as we learned and directly applied concepts from the classroom into our work. That ability to bridge concepts learned like Clinical Document and HL7 Standards, Usability Testing/Research, Clinical Decision Support Systems, and more lessons combined with real- world practice is something I’ll carry with me throughout my career.
How do you hope to make an impact with your career?
I hope to build a career at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and human-centered innovation, starting by continuing to grow into a formal Digital Project Management role and eventually a leader focused on transforming clinical workflows. My goal is to help reimagine the EHR experience by developing AI-driven solutions, such as intelligent summarization tools, that reduce clinician burden and improve patient care. I want to stay closely connected to providers and health systems to build meaningful solution. In the future, I would hope to continue the cycle and mentor the next generation of leaders, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and patient-centered healthcare system.
What was the most important thing you learned at Duke?
The most important thing I learned is that the learning never truly stops! Especially in a field as dynamic and impactful as healthcare, we carry an ethical and moral responsibility to continuously improve patient care through the thoughtful, responsible use of technology. Grateful to keep learning and innovating to solve one healthcare problem at a time!