We Are HIMSS Member Spotlight: Jigar Kadakia

At HIMSS, our members are the heart of our organization, made up of more than 100,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. Because their contributions are essential to our success, we seek to recognize their many accomplishments across title, worksite, region and career stage. Today and every day, we celebrate the essential endeavors of these health information and technology changemakers. #wearehimss

Jigar Kadakia is the chair of the Global Health Conference Education Committee.

Jigar Kadakia, CISSP, CIPP, CRISC
Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer
Partners Healthcare 

What do you see as the future of health information and technology? Where do you think the industry can/will go?

Health information and technology is one of the most interesting areas in healthcare. We have seen the rapid development of tools and technology to assist clinicians and patients in the last 12 months. This has been the most amazing advancement we have witnessed, and it will continue to mature beyond anyone’s imagination. We continue to see the focus on the patient and the need for the patient to obtain data as quickly and accurately as they can.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering a career in health information and technology?

Try to get as much experience in the full technology stack and from a number of different industries. Learn from mentors and your coworkers. This experience will drive your approach and will allow you to see the big picture more broadly. Most critical of all, obtain some real experience in cybersecurity, as you cannot have a great system without cyber-protections.

What has surprised you most about working in health information and technology?

I’m most surprised by the creativity, uniqueness and strategic thinking of the workforce. Typically, you think of big tech as the industry that creates new products and develops great ideas, but healthcare information and technology is more forward thinking than most would imagine, and they have been for decades. The products and applications that have been developed are some of the best in the world. The end game with all of these offerings is to fulfill the need for a better experience between the patient and their clinician and clinical facility.