Embedded Files
V. Kevin Anrud
Candidate for M.S. in Health Informatics – School of Health Professions
V. Kevin Anrud
Candidate for M.S. in Health Informatics – School of Health Professions
The Spark That Turned Into a Passion for Science
The Spark That Turned Into a Passion for Science
At just around 5 years old, Kevin became completely engrossed into the world of science, but specifically Astronomy, Earth Science and Chemistry. As a life-time avid reader, he recalls asking his dad for a science encyclopedia at 8 years old which he read throughout the following summer. Throughout his childhood, TV programs like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Beakman's World aided in transitioning his interest to behavioral sciences and cognition, ultimately landing him in his current research field of human-computer interaction.
"Who wouldn't like getting a lab starter kit from what was Toys 'R Us...?"
"Who wouldn't like getting a lab starter kit from what was Toys 'R Us...?"
Academic Journey
Academic Journey
As a first-generation American student, Kevin's academic journey was unique. Anrud's parents immigrated to Queens, New York in the 70s from Guyana where they worked hard to put himself and his siblings through school.
Because of the under-funded education system at that time and a lack of career guidance, Kevin initially started at Queensborough Community College as a Business Administration major. After quickly realizing his lack of passion for the field, he transferred to Queens College, graduating with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. He later received his masters in Speech-Language Pathology from Ithaca College and has worked in this field for the last 7 years. Kevin also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech and Hearing Association and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) from the Brain Injury Association of America.
Current Research
Current Research
Kevin is entering the final lap of attaining his master's in Health Informatics where he is learning about how technology can be applied to the healthcare field, specifically data analytics, data visualization, and human-computer interaction design.
His current research focus is understanding how social determinants of health (SDOH) play a vital part in holistic treatment of people dealing with complex medical diagnoses, specifically, people of varied ethnic backgrounds and lower socioeconomic brackets.
Kevin is part of a research group that investigated the impact of SDOH on cardiovascular risk within New York City. They used statistics from the CDC and NY State Health Data Repository to visualize the data and create a meaningful story to impart their findings.
"My hope is that as technology improves, it will also allow those in this field concerned with what we can do with all of this collected data, to help individuals understand and promote not only their health, but also that of their family. In doing so, ultimately, we could see a positive change at the individual, community, national, and global level."
"My hope is that as technology improves, it will also allow those in this field concerned with what we can do with all of this collected data, to help individuals understand and promote not only their health, but also that of their family. In doing so, ultimately, we could see a positive change at the individual, community, national, and global level."
Overcoming Obstacles and Lessons Learned
Overcoming Obstacles and Lessons Learned
Kevin decided to pursue his master's in Health Informatics during the pandemic, proving to be difficult for a variety of reasons. Naturally, working in a hospital setting at the time was challenging but he felt it was a tremendous advantage to have virtual classes.
At times, Kevin found it difficult to juggle school and work but found he was capable of great resilience and strength in the face of tough times. He offered a few pieces of valuable advice to other trainees, recommending , "know who you are and what you want- become deeply introspective," and to, "understand your strengths and limitations- ask those who you know best in good/bad times what they think these are."
Future Career Goals and Personal Interests
Future Career Goals and Personal Interests
Kevin's future goals involve leveraging his experience in healthcare with what he's learned through his degree program to become a project manager within a healthcare system. In the next five years, he hopes to continue to learn more about programming languages that make use of data, data visualization strategies, healthcare information system management and product ownership.
Outside of work and academia, Kevin is an avid comic-book fan, and enjoys the remakes of his favorite old comic books as live action movie adaptations. His love of reading has continued since childhood and he often reads books related to his field of work- cognitive science, communication disorders and their treatments, and self-improvement literature. In Kevin's free-time, he can be found meditating, running, traveling, and exploring chicken wing & ramen spots around the city.
"Invest in yourself- become and stay a life-long learner"
"Invest in yourself- become and stay a life-long learner"
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse