丁香园AV

Not everyone enjoys working with data and analytics. But what if the numbers you provided could change patients鈥� lives?

You could call that Brendan Bernardo鈥檚 mission. A recent graduate of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Business Analysis Certificate, Brendan serves as a business intelligence specialist for BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (part of the Provincial Health Services Authority). In his role, he meets with stakeholders to identify priorities for adult tertiary mental health in B.C. hospitals and ways to support their vision.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in helping others, and through school I found the love of numbers and the power of analytics to do that,鈥� Brendan says.

He began his career with the organization as a data analyst, generating reports based on requests from leadership teams. Once he moved into his current role, he realized these reports could help create positive change for patients and hospital staff.

鈥淲e may look data that helps support quality improvement initiatives,鈥� Brendan explains. 鈥淥r, we look into trends based on the expansion of virtual health services and the response to COVID-19.鈥�

鈥淲e ask ourselves, 鈥楬ow do we produce meaningful results that actually support our patients and clients?鈥欌�� 

He first registered for 丁香园AV鈥檚 Requirements Elicitation, Communication and Management course to learn strategies for engaging with stakeholders. The course sparked an interest in learning more about the business analysis field, and he ended up enrolling in the certificate program.

As the only person working in healthcare in most of his classes, Brendan brought a unique perspective鈥攁nd learned much from his classmates in return. By watching how his peers, in industries like mining or tech, applied concepts they were learning, Brendan picked up new ideas to put forward in his own role. 

He now applies business analysis strategies to his data collection and reporting work. As a result, Brendan is not only meeting business needs, but also working with leaders to identify new opportunities in healthcare. 

鈥淚 think that whole aspect of collaboration to create meaningful products is something that I really enjoy,鈥� he says, 鈥淚鈥檓 sitting at the same table with all stakeholders, having these level conversations, because we鈥檙e all trying to work towards that same type of solution.鈥�

As for anyone who is considering the field of business analysis, Brendan鈥檚 advice is to start thinking like a BA within your organization. 

鈥淓ven if you haven鈥檛 started the certificate yet, think about how it would actually apply to your current job,鈥� he says. 

鈥淚鈥檓 not a BA in title, but I do plenty of BA work, and this program has already helped me move forward in my career.鈥�

By Bernice Puzon