Naomi, can you talk to us about how you got into your current role as a CDA?
I graduated with a Physics degree from Queens University Belfast in July 2021 and was on the lookout for a graduate role – after finishing off my degree during COVID times I was really looking forward to joining the professional working world! I applied to a Medical Data Analyst role via a recruiter’s post on LinkedIn who soon after rang to tell me I’ve been offered an interview and revealed the company hiring was B-Secur! I had a really positive interview experience with my now-manager Holly, where I was asked a range of technical and personal questions and left the interview really wanting the role!
Describe a typical working day at B-Secur?
When I work the office, I always start my day off with breakfast from the office caterers Yellow Door and a big mug of tea- the instant hot water taps really feed my tea addiction throughout the day! I then get started on whatever task I’m working on at the minute- I work between Validation and Clinical Research projects so each week is different for me. My recent activities have been performing customer data analysis and prepping for customer calls, performing clinical data analysis, and annotating ECG data for validation projects. I enjoy being able to work on different projects on the same day- it makes the day fly by!
What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
The biggest highlight for me definitely has to be attending and presenting at the EHRA conference in Barcelona with my co-worker Mike! I presented the RASCA (Rhythm Annotation and Signal Conditioning Assessment) analysis project as an ePoster, on which I was also an analyst. The poster demonstrated how HeartKey signal conditioning significantly improves speed and efficiency of rhythm annotation, and confidence and accuracy of rhythm diagnoses. It was a really proud moment for me seeing our team’s hard work being brought to life on screen at such a prestigious conference and being trusted and given the privilege to present it! I also really enjoyed the Spanish food and las cervezas… it was my first time in Barcelona, and I’ll definitely be back!
I wore the Bittium Faros device during the conference and processed the signal with HeartKey’s powerful suite of ECG signal conditioning and analytic algorithms. The below chart shows my Stress and HR trend over the last two days of the conference – you should easily be able to see which day I was presenting on! 😵
What is the most exciting part of your job at B-Secur?
The best part of my job is definitely the feeling of succeeding as a team– I might be biased but I definitely think I’m part of the best (and biggest) team in the company. We all get on really well and have a lot of fun, even when things get stressful. Everyone really pulls their weight in tasks and cares about the success of them so every project completed feels like a team win! I also enjoy working with other teams, particularly occasionally the commercial team. You can really absorb a lot of knowledge from senior members of staff – they’re all very keen to share their experiences and act as a mentor!
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Outside of work I play rugby and generally enjoy going to the gym to keep fit (and sane!). I’ve recently had knee surgery after rupturing my ACL so I’ve been in the process of rehabbing and regaining my strength and fitness- B-Secur’s flexible working makes it really easy for me to fit in physio appointments, gym and exercise during my week without having to use up holiday days. I also make the effort to switch off from work at the weekends- I love going for swims in the sea or long walks somewhere scenic! I also have two pet cats, Nero and Gus, who keep me company when I’m working from home!
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in becoming a Clinical Data Analyst in Healthcare?
If you’re interested in becoming an analyst in the medical sector, a genuine interest in healthcare and medical technology is a must. Healthcare is becoming more and more data-driven, increasing the need for analysts who can make sense of and derive useful conclusions from the data to advance health technology! Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, and experience in various programming languages is really beneficial.