Week 1 Discussion Board: Why Health Informatics? Perspectives and Professional Impact
Overview
The purpose of the discussion board is to collaborate and engage with classmates and instructor on lesson's topics. Students should make attempts to move the conversation forward with peers by making suggestions, asking questions, or elaborating on statements. Critical thinking and engagement are key components of a successful discussion.  Be sure that writing demonstrated an understanding of the subject, proper grammar and punctuation, and evidence of critical thought.  Refer to the instructions
and rubric below for guidance on expectations.
Part One: Initial Post (must be at least 150 words)
Instructions:
In this week's discussion:

 Share why you chose to pursue a career or advanced study in health informatics.
 Reflect on the key drivers of the field as discussed in Chapter 1 (e.g., data-driven care, digital transformation, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient engagement, etc.).
 How do you envision making a meaningful impact in your future role—whether in clinical, administrative, policy, or technical spaces?
Your post should demonstrate thoughtful reflection and engagement with the week’s
reading.
Then, respond to at least two of your classmates to identify shared interests, offer
encouragement, or expand on their ideas.
Due Dates:

 Initial Post: Day 3 by 11:59 p.m.
 Responses to Peers: By Day 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Word Count: 250–300 words (initial post)
Citations: Reference Chapter 1 or other scholarly sources as needed (APA format encouraged but not required for discussion boards).

Part Two: Responses (must be at least 75 words each)
Read your classmate's initial posts to this week's discussion and reply to at least 2 of your classmate's posts. When replying, try to provide suggestions or ask questions in connection to your peer's thoughts. Your responses should demonstrate depth and breadth of elements of the discussion question and provide evidence of critical thought. Important Requirements

 Your initial response must be made by the 3rd day of the week

 You must reply to 2 classmates (and/or Instructor) by the 7th day of the week
 You must post in the discussion board on 3 separate days
 Refer to the rubric below for additional guidelines