How a Master’s in Health Informatics Helped Nadine Miyamoto Hit the Ground Running

Nadine Miyamoto, Health Information Specialist & Wake Forest SPS alum

On the second day of her new job as a health information specialist at Datavent, Nadine Miyamoto’s manager did a double take.

Nadine had completed a full week’s worth of medical records training—in under 48 hours. While most new hires spend their first week tiptoeing through a slow ramp-up, she had already processed 40 record requests and nailed every single one.

“She told me I was lightyears ahead,” Nadine said. “They usually give new hires a week or two to learn the system. I was done in two days.”

Her competitive edge was honed class by class, project by project, through her journey in the online Master of Health Informatics program at Wake Forest School of Professional Studies (SPS).

Discovering Her Strengths 

Nadine’s original plan for a career in medicine involved a more hands-on approach. With a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, she initially set her sights on physical therapy school. She worked in clinics, first as a physical therapy aide, then as a stretch practitioner. But as she balanced both clinical and administrative tasks, she started to notice something.

“I realized I was really good at the office side of things,” Nadine said. “Things like insurance processing, front desk tasks, and reporting all came naturally to me.”

That realization prompted her to look beyond physical therapy and explore the administrative side of healthcare. 

Finding the Right Fit with Wake Forest

“I didn’t know much about health informatics at first,” Nadine admitted. “But as I researched, I saw how much the field was growing and how relevant it was to the future of healthcare. It just made sense.”

When she discovered Wake Forest’s Health Informatics program, it felt like the perfect match—a respected university with a growing program in a field that was gaining momentum.

The curriculum and Wake Forest’s reputation were driving factors behind her decision to apply, but she also appreciated the immediate support she received from Wake Forest SPS. 

“My Student Success Manager Candace was amazing. She always followed up and helped me every step of the way. That kind of personal connection made a big difference,” she reflected. 

A Transformational Learning Experience 

In 2023, Nadine dove in and began the program. 

Each course deepened her understanding of healthcare data systems, records management, and patient-centered technology. She found that her knowledge compounded in powerful ways, especially through final projects and the capstone experience.

“At the end of each class, we would do a project that brought everything together,” she said. “It wasn’t until I was finishing my capstone that I realized how much I had learned. I used tools and articles from every single class.”

Her capstone focused on addressing the lack of health literacy among patients—a personal passion born from her time spent working in diverse communities where language and education were barriers to care. Nadine proposed integrating an AI platform called ADA Health into patient portals and clinical environments, helping patients better understand their symptoms, treatment options, and diagnoses.

“It’s about giving people the tools to advocate for themselves,” she explained. “Health literacy impacts everything from obesity rates in kids to medication adherence in older adults. I wanted to build something that makes that easier.”

Ahead on Day One

Today, her experience in the program supports her work as a Health Information Specialist. She started the job in April 2025 while wrapping up her coursework.  In this role, she manages medical records processing, which includes retrieving clinical notes, imaging, and documentation requested by patients and providers. It’s fast-paced, detail-oriented work and requires sharp knowledge of insurance protocols, data systems, and HIPAA compliance.

“I was able to excel right away because the program prepared me to understand the systems and processes behind the work,” Nadine explained. 

Looking back, she’s grateful for the program that opened the door to a new kind of healthcare career.

“If you’re considering the Master of Health Informatics, do it,” Nadine said. “Wake Forest has been incredibly supportive, and it’s completely manageable. The knowledge, the network, the confidence it gives you is all real, and it shows up from day one on the job.”

Ready to start the next phase of your career? Learn more about the online Master of Health Informatics program. Request information today.