Laurie Novak, PHD, MHSA
Dr. Novak is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research aims to improve the beneficial alignment of technology and social life. Current research is focused on developing and implementing predictive analytics in a variety of clinical environments and developing new theory for understanding patient and caregiver management of chronic illness in everyday life. Other interests include biobanking, user experience research, and mentoring students. As Director of the IBM-funded DBMI Center of Excellence in Applied Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Novak oversees research and other collaborative activities related to the implementation and assessment of AI tools in medicine.
Dr. Novak obtained a PhD in medical and organizational anthropology at Wayne State University, and a Masters degree in Health Services Management and Policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She has also completed a National Library of Medicine postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical informatics, and a design research fellowship at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology.
Dr. Novak is an expert in designing and conducting research on the clinical work activities of patients, caregivers, and clinical personnel. She serves as a social science resource for DBMI, advising and teaching others on topics such as qualitative methods of research, formulation of research questions that relate to technology, work, and society, and facilitation of research and design partnerships between computational scientists and clinicians.