– Written by Mamta Gawade, PHUSE APAC Blog Lead

I started contributing to the PHUSE SDEs 18 months ago, when I first began learning about them. At the time, I had just attended my first – and the last – virtual SDE. My mind was blown. PHUSE was an eye-opener. I wrote my first blog post (An Attendee’s Personal Experience of the India Summer SDE) and started a reflection journey as a way to share my learning. I felt I still had a tremendous amount to learn!

Now, many months later, as I see the landscape of data science changing in India and across the globe, I still feel I have a tremendous amount to learn!

It’s an exciting (and daunting) time to be a leader. It’s humbling to look back, and I’d like to think I have learned a lot since then – not only about healthcare but also about myself as a learner. I have come to embrace the fact that learning isn’t static. Even now, when I look back on some of my earlier LinkedIn posts about data science, leadership and networking, I can see how my perspective has evolved and changed.

I’ll admit it: I’m an unashamed SDE junkie. Why? Because I always come home refreshed, inspired, and bursting with new tools and ideas.

Life’s too short to get stagnant and shrivel up, my friends. Whether your kids are little or off to college, or work is keeping you on your toes, I encourage you to seek opportunities for personal growth. Attending conferences is a great way to do that.

Here are some key reasons why:

• You get inspired.
• You network and build new relationships.
• You sharpen your skills.
• You get out of your comfort zone.

The ultimate thing for me was finally attending my first PHUSE in-person SDE last year. I not only met connections I already knew, but new people, who I stayed in touch with over the following year … and then saw again at other SDEs. I then met more new friends, who I will support and get to know better. It’s a fun cycle that makes returning to the SDEs less stressful and anxiety producing.

Not going to lie, when I first started networking, the idea of befriending people on #LinkedIn was bizarre to me. But I learned to quickly move beyond that frame of mind. To have a meaningful connection with a thriving community of supporters, it’s essential to have friendships in the community. Yes, even in your niche.

This is what it’s like to be a conference attendee: full of inspiration and amazement at all the exciting things to come.

Why I love Single Day Events:

• Networking and collaboration – The starting point of new research networks and collaborative projects.
• Innovation – You get to hear about the latest research in your field from specific panels, keynote speeches and discussion roundtables.
• Inspiration – Listening to a paper or keynote speech can inspire a new direction in your work or give you ideas for your next project.

As with any new social situation, networking can seem a bit daunting and awkward at first. Once you’ve started, though, it’s easy to get the PHUSE SDE bug.

Overall, there are many advantages to attending an SDE, so if you have the opportunity to do so, I highly recommend taking advantage of it!

Healthcare data science is a field I’m endlessly fascinated and inspired by. As an emerging sector, there is a lot to learn from the experiences and insights of diverse industry leaders, panel sessions, intermediaries and other supporters.

None of us has all the answers yet. We need to be exploring, experimenting, evolving and learning – not only as individuals but as a sector. And an event like the #SDE is the perfect place to find people to explore, experiment and learn with. This is why I’m always so excited about SDEs – they’re a chance to see friends and community. It really is about the people you meet along the way.

PHUSE Volunteering has made a positive impact on my life by building my self-confidence, relationship skills and social skills. Helping others and devoting my time to this organisation has given me a sense of pride. I now know I can accomplish a wide spectrum of tasks. I’ve met patients, doctors, professors, leaders, co¬workers or other volunteers. I’ve shared similar interests, which has created friendships. As these relationships have begun forming, I’ve felt enormous support. I ceased to be timid, I became stronger at interacting, and I discovered my strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome failure.

That’s my ultimate takeaway from PHUSE this year: that we’re humanising healthcare. Science and tech are unleashing innovation we never thought possible, but human connection is the glue that will make it stick.

My journey as a member has been all about engagement with the Community and all it has to offer. I’m proud to have had an opportunity to help shape PHUSE’s work as both a volunteer and a Blog Lead.

As time goes on, I hope to keep giving to the Community. I welcome you to join PHUSE on this learning journey! It will help you contribute to the Community and give you a chance to explore India. This is a great time to look into new opportunities and grow! I’ll be heading out to several events that I can’t wait for in 2024.

These one-day global events are free to attend, centred around an event theme and made up of presentations and panel discussions. These regionally based meetings provide an excellent opportunity to network. https://phuse.global/Events_Calendar

PHUSE Single Day Events in India:

• 16 March: Gurugram
• 8 June: Hyderabad
• 21 September: Chennai
• 23 November: Bengaluru

I hope to see some of you at these SDEs. Let me know if you’re going – I’d love to come say hello! And if these events aren’t your thing, I encourage you to seek out events in your area of interest, such as webinars and blog writing.

Would you like to hear more about how? Just drop me an email with “Hi” at mamta.gawade@phuse.global or connect with me on LinkedIn: Mamta G. | LinkedIn.

Make your personal growth a priority and see yourself flourish!

Cheers to the journey.

About the author:

Mamta Gawade has been associated with PHUSE since 2022. She is currently working as a volunteer and supporting as APAC Blog Lead, overseeing all PHUSE Blog activities in the Asia Pacific region.

Mamta has 15+ years of experience in clinical research across clinical operations, clinical data management, audit and compliance and clinical trial budgeting in global settings (Americas, EMEA and APAC). She has held leadership roles across CROs and currently manages the Oncology and Immunology R&D assets from a budgeting, financial and pricing perspective. She is passionate about bringing a patient-centric approach to clinical trials and achieving health equity.

Mamta is a microbiologist and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai and a master’s degree from SMU in clinical research. She trained in management at IIM Ahmedabad in building strategies and senior leadership. Mamta is a global leader and has collaborated with PHUSE (APAC Blog Lead), HBA India (Volunteer), HIMSS (Startup Committee Member), and IIMA SIG Healthcare (Volunteer) and is a member of ASCO, ESMO, ISO and ISCR.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this blog post are solely based on my experiences and opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer or the company I work for. Any information, advice or recommendations provided in this blog post should not be considered official or endorsed by my employer or company and should be used at the reader’s own discretion.