What is your official name and title?
Dr. Nelly Nyaga, a Pharmacist currently in Health Data Science as a Research and Innovation Lead.
Where are you currently working and what does a day in your life look like?
I currently work at IntelliSOFT Consulting Limited, a leading Health Tech company on a mission to build Health IT systems for Africa. At IntelliSOFT, I am a member of the senior management team leading the Health Data Science, Research and Innovation department (quite a mouthful! so I abbreviate it as HDSRI).
I have often been asked to describe a typical day at work but honestly the moment I feel like my days have become predictable, they drastically change again. We develop digital systems that handle a lot of health related data that requires reporting, interpretation and analysis and I therefore work on this along my very able and talented colleagues.
We also undertake implementation science research, develop technical documents including various health informatics / digital health policies which I often lead / take part in. I also spend a significant amount of time developing proposals for funding for new business opportunities.
Due to the global nature of the work we do, I am often travelling to represent the company, make presentations of the work we are undertaking of course explore new business opportunities. My favourite part is challenging myself and the team to innovate and find new ways of doing things. It’s often a painful and scary process but the innovation grows on you and it becomes easier and fun as you go.
What are you most passionate about in your Pharmacy Practice?
I am practicing pharmacy informatics and the best part about tech is that it is ever changing, exciting and with endless possibilities. I am most fulfilled when I am part of a team developing a certain digital health system and I get to apply my pharmacy and health knowledge in the process to ensure we develop systems that fulfil the needs of the health system we serve.
What do you love most about about being a Pharmacist?
There is something about pharmacy education that somehow makes you a versatile global professional, able to work in very diverse systems. Sometimes I think it’s Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy that toughened us and do not get me started on the Chiromo banter. I have worked in diverse settings and every time I swift my way through, I always find myself accrediting it to my pharmacy school experience.
What keeps you going as a Pharmacist?
The knowledge that I am extremely good and passionate at what I do and the fact that I can learn anything that I do not know. I think challenges also keep me going, I love a challenge. I enjoy the process of going from zero to one hundred on a subject and so I am always going in search of a new quest, a new height.
What’s that one thing you enjoy doing apart from being a Pharmacist?
I love public speaking, making scientific presentations before audiences. I wanted to be an actress when I was younger so I think this is the closest thing to that for me currently. I definitely get the palpitations but every time I am on a stage, I feel like I am truly in my zone, exuding passion and excellence. I also enjoy travelling, experiencing new cultures and possibilities.
Any advice to the young pharmacist?
Be audacious in your dreams, in your moves and in your actions. When we were kids growing up, we believed we would change the world, find the cure for HIV, go to the moon, be rich… But as we grow older, we get disillusioned by hurdles and by life itself and we start to breed hopelessness, dreaming small and settling. I like to remind myself that I am still the same girl, still the same dreamer and so should every young pharmacist. I would like to recommend a song by Lily Meola “Daydream” that reminds me to be audacious and dreamy!
Also remember if you do not ask, the answer will always be no and finally, get yourself a group of high achievers, principled and focused people as one of your good friends. People to challenge you, people to impose “positive peer pressure” on you. I have one, we call it “Jenga(Build)” because we are there to “Jengana(Build each other)” and it has been life changing.
Inspiring