The small but mighty "P" team
Amanda Silva & Samantha Palmer
November 10, 2022
One of the great things about all the teams that make up DATA is the diversity in everyone’s role. Together, the teams make up a beautiful mosaic. Here, each person is in a position to grow and benefit from each others’ strengths and lean on one another in what might be a gap for one but an area of expertise for someone else. Allowing the light to perfectly shine through, or in our case, our projects to be perfectly executed.
One big reason that DATA can carry out so many innovative projects is the project support team, or as we sometimes refer to it, the “P” team. Our team, while relatively small, manages and supports the technology development and deployment in all areas, project, product, policy and people. The P team, consisting of just four team members, works across all of our technology teams to remove any obstacles, help plan and execute the projects, making sure all the requirements are consistent with stakeholder visions, all while staying on track.
Our educational backgrounds span from politics and international relations to health policy, health informatics, and sociology. While helping our respective teams, we never stop wanting to learn and build on our own skills. As exemplified in our self-learning while also working, this multi-tasking ability allows the P team to work on multiple projects at a given time. This multi-tasking also enables us, when possible, to make interconnections between the various projects to make sure there are no duplicative efforts.
While helping our respective teams, we never stop wanting to learn and build on our own skills. As exemplified in our self-learning while also working, this multi-tasking ability allows the P team to work on multiple projects at a given time.
Amanda, Project Support team lead
This team not only supports the technology teams but also lends their expertise in terms of day-to-day logistics, communications, operational and resource management, as well as long-term and immediate planning to envision where the team can continue to grow. For these tasks, we work closely with Dr. Brudno and his collaborators. This is one of the exciting parts of being part of the P team, your interactions with stakeholders at multiple levels, and in multiple departments. Though Halloween has passed, it is possible to say the P team weaves the web connecting DATA to UHN and more broadly. Through positive mindsets and thoughtful communication, we can strengthen working relationships with various teams to facilitate and promote collaboration and innovation.
As you might have read in the prior blog posts, some of our DATA teams specialize in machine learning, others in federated analysis and some dedicate their efforts to building platforms to streamline the research and care for clinicians and patients. One thing remains central: the need for a thoughtful planning process to execute. Our P team exemplifies a servant leader leadership style, by making sure the needs of the team are taken care of, this enables them to develop and perform as efficiently as possible. For us, this means lots of variety to our days, no two are alike and we are always working and thinking to find creative solutions, manage expectations and provide environments. Our end goal? The technologies can shine and thrive, and ultimately make a difference in the world of health care.