Mathematical pioneer Ada Lovelace took on a simple task in 1842 at the behest of her friend and mentor Charles Babbage, commonly known as the Father of the Computer. Her job was to translate Italian engineer Luigi Meneabrea’s lecture notes on the Analytical Engine from French to English. But for a woman who showed her mathematical talents as a teen, a simple translation wouldn’t do. Ada corrected and expanded Meneabrea’s notes. With incredible foresight and dedication, Ada developed a vision of computers that went beyond their ability to crunch numbers. Her commitment to a mindset of “poetical science” led her into a deep dive through the waters of potential for the Analytical Engine — to envision it as a generator of unlimited potential and a tool to foster human collaborative and creation.
By shifting the conversation around the Analytical Engine from basic calculation to computation, Ada Lovelace changed the world of computing and became the first software engineer. On International Women’s Day, Silverline is proud to highlight a couple of our incredible clients — and particularly women who are making a difference through technology, carrying on in the best tradition of Ada Lovelace by shifting conversations about what technology can do for their clients in healthcare.
Highlighting Two Women Pioneers in Healthcare and Technology Today
Olivia Goh Kidder, CRM Program Manager at Indiana University Health
Nationally ranked among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 21 consecutive years, and ranked #1 in the state, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine — one of the nation’s leading medical schools — gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.
Olivia is the CRM program manager for IU Health and has led the development and implementation of the CRM vision for the hospital system. She tells us, “I’m passionate about bringing to life the ability for a large health system to engage with our patients in a way that is informative, timely and relevant. As a woman in technology, I particularly enjoy using my collaboration, interpersonal and communication skills, combined with my understanding of the technology and our CRM vision, to bring team members together from diverse functional areas to work towards a common patient-centered goal.”
Julie Ward, Vice President of Strategy & Social Innovation at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
As the Vice President of Strategy & Social Innovation at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Julie oversees administration projects and board governance, directs community health strategies, leads diversity and inclusivity initiatives, and partners with Avera providers and departments to deliver 24/7 support services through a medical call center and hospital communications hub.
She leads four departments staffed exclusively by women serving in a variety of leadership, clinical, and non-clinical roles. The Avera Medical Call Center provides medical triage, health education, screening registration, and interpreter support. Avera Hospital Communications operates a 24/7 hub consisting of a full-service switchboard, code oversight, and telecommunications support. Avera Interpreter Services provides in-person, audio and video interpretation, and translation services. Strategy & Social Innovation oversees diversity and inclusivity initiatives, and social innovation strategies designed to address social determinants of health.
Julie says, “I am truly inspired by the remarkable women I work alongside every day. They are talented, compassionate, and dedicated to their colleagues and the patients we serve. They embrace Avera’s mission and demonstrate it in a million different ways every day.”
The Importance of Women in STEM Today
Now, more than ever in the early stages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women are needed in all areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (aka STEM). Within the realm of healthcare and financial services, diversity is crucial as technology becomes more people-centered from a design standpoint.
In addition to having more women in labs, more women in STEM need inclusion in the boardrooms and at the executive level — where policy and business strategies are crafted. Studies have shown that where a diverse workforce leads, higher profitability and scientific innovation follow. On International Women’s Day and every day beyond, creating and facilitating an environment of diversity and inclusion is a winning strategy — one Silverline fosters and supports.
Interested in joining our growing team? Check out our open roles on our careers page.