Building Bridges: Joanne Binds Together Healthcare, Data Analysis, and Innovation

Meet Our Interns Blog Series: Joanne Duy

After moving to metro-Detroit at a young age, I felt like the only thing connecting me to my Canadian family was the Ambassador Bridge. This 7,500-foot long suspension bridge links my childhood home of Windsor, Ontario with my current home in southeast Michigan. Not only does the nearly 100 year-old bridge connect more than 25% of merchandise trade between the U.S. and Canada, it also serves as a passageway to tens of thousands of travelers every day. On some of my most memorable days, my family and I were among those many travelers.

For my younger self, the Ambassador Bridge was the link that connected me with my family and friends that seemed so distant. The bridge enabled my favorite childhood routines, including early Sunday morning dim sum trips, overly-competitive Wii and board game nights with cousins, and scenic art tours along the Canadian side of the Detroit River.

Each visit was an adventure, made possible by the bridge that closed the gap between my two homes. It was this landmark that inspired my dream to build similar bridges all over the world. So at a young age, I was set on becoming a mechanical or civil engineer.  

Fast forwarding many years later, I realized that I’d rather build different types of bridges. At the University of Michigan, I’ve gained experience in coding, data analysis, and medical device development, while slowly discerning my passion. Though I was initially unsure of my post-graduate plans, I knew that I wanted to use my skills to implement innovative solutions that would create community impact. For this reason, I chose a major that integrates a variety of disciplines to serve others.

Biomedical engineering (BME) exists at the intersection of public health, engineering, and data analysis. While studying BME, I have realized the importance of bringing together multiple perspectives in order to find the best solution to problems. One key to enacting effective local change is building a bridge that allows community members and professionals from diverse backgrounds to bring their unique experiences to the table. These are the bridges that I hope to build.

After reading about enFocus’s work and speaking with their team, I saw how closely their mission aligned with my goal of applying the data-driven solutions and critical thinking skills to create change in our community. At enFocus, I have the opportunity to work with a local Department of Health. In this role, I am able to bridge together healthcare and data analysis to streamline internal health systems.

I’m grateful to learn from and be part of a dedicated team that shares the same goal as me: to build bridges between people that make a lasting impact on our community.

Learn more about the 2021 enFocus Summer Interns weekly in our Meet Our Interns Blog Series.