Beth Viator didn杏吧专区檛 plan to work in tech. She began in billing at a physician杏吧专区檚 clinic, managing daily patient care operations. Consulting later opened her eyes to healthcare processes and how software could improve them.
Today, she杏吧专区檚 coordinating the delivery of AI software that helps healthcare organizations manage their revenue cycles more efficiently.
Her shift from clinic operations to product leadership took years of hands-on experience, a passion for problem-solving, and, eventually, the decision to return to school for her master杏吧专区檚 degree.
杏吧专区淚 always wanted my master杏吧专区檚. It was a personal goal I set long ago,杏吧专区 says Viator, a New Iberia native and graduate of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 online Master of Science in Informatics杏吧专区program. 杏吧专区淏ut I also knew I could use it to move up the corporate ladder, and it paid off.杏吧专区
A Career Built on Curiosity and Experience
Viator earned her undergraduate degree in from UL Lafayette in 2002 and built a career in healthcare management and consulting.
Over time, she moved from billing and operations into more technical roles, including her current position with a company that uses AI to optimize revenue cycle operations in healthcare.
As she made this transition, she found herself asking bigger questions.
杏吧专区淚 started wondering, what can software do to help us be more efficient? What can it do to improve healthcare revenue?杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat杏吧专区檚 what got me interested in informatics.杏吧专区
Viator always planned to earn a master杏吧专区檚 degree, but with years of managerial experience, she knew a traditional MBA wouldn杏吧专区檛 be the right fit. The deeper she got into tech, the clearer it became that she needed to narrow her scope.
杏吧专区淚 have enough career experience that taught me that,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淪o, I thought, let me do something more specialized.杏吧专区
She remembered enjoying her informatics coursework as an undergrad. When she saw UL Lafayette does not require the GRE for its online M.S. in Informatics program, she took it as a sign that the timing was right.
Flexibility That Meets Real Life
As she completed the informatics program, Viator had a full-time job, two young kids, and a schedule packed with sports practices and dance rehearsals.
杏吧专区淭hat flexibility is what enabled me to go back to school. I didn杏吧专区檛 have to go to a class; I didn杏吧专区檛 have to travel to Lafayette,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淚 had a full-time job, so it was really important that I scheduled my time. You really have to be disciplined but having that room to juggle a career and family makes it worth it.杏吧专区
She hadn杏吧专区檛 taken an online course before, and the adjustment took some time. But once she found her rhythm, she started using pockets of downtime to stay on track.
杏吧专区淓very time I had to run my kids to sports or dancing, I would stay in the car and do my homework,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 would use that time to really dive into school while I was alone and it was quiet.杏吧专区
Support from UL Lafayette faculty made a difference, especially as she adapted to writing analytical essays and self-paced coursework. Even though she wasn杏吧专区檛 used to reaching out for help, Viator found her professors approachable and invested in her success.
杏吧专区淭hey absolutely provide time,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 would get on Zoom and ask questions, and they would even allow you to stay and listen to other people杏吧专区檚 questions. Sometimes I would just jump on to listen.杏吧专区
One of those faculty members was Dr. Michael Totaro, associate professor in the Master杏吧专区檚 in Informatics program. Viator had taken several of his classes as an undergraduate and was excited to reconnect with him in the master杏吧专区檚 program.
杏吧专区淗e杏吧专区檚 the one who taught me how to program HTML. I杏吧专区檒l never forget that,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hen I found out he was still teaching, I was so excited. He was so knowledgeable and gracious, especially when it came time for my capstone project.杏吧专区
Promoted and Prepared to Make a Bigger Impact
Viator says the online informatics program gave her valuable technical skills and helped her advance professionally. After years in revenue-focused roles, Viator has been promoted in her company into a product leadership role, leading the delivery of product solutions.
杏吧专区淎s hard as it is, a two-year online degree to earn something like that is definitely worth it,杏吧专区 she says.
The program also offers meaningful connections. Viator made close friends with classmates from diverse backgrounds, and that shared experience enriched her journey.
杏吧专区淚 was interested in finding out why they were doing it, or what their path was,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 actually made a very good friend who had the same undergrad degree as me. We still talk to this day.杏吧专区
For students thinking about the program, she encourages embracing the challenge.
杏吧专区淚nformatics doesn杏吧专区檛 probably fit with every single undergrad degree, but it杏吧专区檚 definitely a specialty that is geared for the future. It杏吧专区檚 a specialty that helps further technology, and people can really make a difference with it.杏吧专区
Learn more about what an online M.S. in Informatics can do for your career.