Well, what can I say? It has been a blast over the past year and a half. In my time at the company I have managed to work on a number of fascinating projects, here is a list of just some of them:
- Data Science Platform – this has been the culmination of lots of machine learning projects, undertaken separately in R and Python, and has allowed for our Healthcare Data Science Platform to be developed. This, alongside skilled data scientists, data engineers and front end developers, we think we have developed something really special
- Clinical Outcome Review System (CORS) – we have built a lot into this product and it has allowed the web tool to be co created and aligned with our core customers. The CORS tool is a web framework that enables the centralisation of ‘learning from deaths’ in one, easy to use, web tool.
- Command Centre – led the design and development of the underpinning machine learning and forecasting models embedded into the solution. Furthermore, working alongside key trusts to deploy the solution and tailor to the trusts needs. For information about this product see: https://draperanddash.com/solutions-2/command-centre/.
- Readmission avoidance tool, stranded patient predictor, ED Length of Stay estimator, waiting list cohorter, building an effective forecasting solution, alongside many other projects – primarily developing the forecasting and predictive functionality, alongside our key data scientist Alfonso. These have not been created as Qlik and other BI dashboards which smoothly integrate and augment the machine learning with exploratory analysis functionality in the various business intelligence solutions.
- Data Assurance Programme – working with a number of trusts to establish our data assurance framework and build out the discovery process that heightens and improves the visibility of data issues across the organisational sphere.
- AI and ML innovation lead – established the wider AI/ML meetup group and managed the preexisting trustwide AI and ML group. This involved sending regular updates to the group and making sure they were sighted of coming D&D products, tools and algorithms.
- Developed the Machine Learning and Data Science Training – led on the rollout of upskilling analysts in data science and machine learning techniques, mainly using the R programming language as a vehicle for the demonstration of the ‘art of the possible’.
- Cancer analytics – led the statistical analysis of a number of key cancer measures to establish if the change in the group was of significant noteworthiness.
- COVID-19 – SIR and SEIR model development. These led to the correct estimation of a number of epidemic curves and peaks. Additionally, I created a Shiny web tool to allow for the estimation of peak demand. This was a very fun project to be working on, in a distressing time.
These are just a few of the projects I have been involved with and I am hugely proud of the time at the company.
I look forward to my next challenge back in the NHS as Head of Advanced Analytics for a CSU I won’t name…
What will I miss about the role?
I will miss a number of things in the role, but if I had to rank order them, as a statistician you know how much we like to quantify, they would be:
- The people – the team at D&D are great and I have made some really good friends.
- The challenge – every day is different, from coding a Shiny app, to working in R to do a Machine Learning problem, to working in Python to work on NLP and Deep Learning, to working as a consultant in a consulting role, to working with clients, to upskilling NHS analysts, to working on a number of different domains.
- The learning curve – I like to continuously develop, and D&D affords that opportunity. Every day is a school day, as my professor used to say.
- The team spirit – we are a team and that is how we deliver all our projects.
- The coding – I love coding and I have time to do this on a daily basis – from R to Python for data science, SQL for extracting information, among others.
The only thing I won’t miss is the travel, but you can’t have it all…
Does this sound like your bag?
If you want to become the new me, then you are in luck, as D&D are looking for a replacement:
Click on the image above to be routed to the Draper and Dash main website.
A special thanks to all the guys at D&D
I would like to say that I have really enjoyed my time with the team and I will miss each and every one of the team.
Team D&D
You guys have been great and it has been emotional.