Opportunity keeps knocking for new grad
Even before Lara Dahle graduated, prospective employers approached her, asking to be notified upon her graduation. This might not be so surprising for this exceptional student, but it is the norm for many students in her program. She is graduating with a bachelor of science in health information science.
The program, offered in the School of Health Information Science, is the study of computer and telecommunications technology applied towards the collection of health care data, the processing of information and how it can support effective health care decision-making by professionals.

“This is one of the few degrees that transitions very smoothly into the workforce with opportunities for an outstanding job right out of school,”says Dahle, who chose the co-op degree option, completing her final term working with Telehealth in the Northwest Territories. She transitioned into full-time employment heading up a territory-wide project on electronic medical records. “I was fortunate to have such a highly responsible and challenging experience so quickly upon graduation.”

This Comox Valley native and sports enthusiast has been a doula, coroner, paramedic, fire fighter, victim’s services worker and Africa volunteer. Choosing UVic for its impressive facilities, she quickly immersed into campus life and volunteered as a peer helper, a tour guide, and worked tirelessly towards the ultimately unsuccessful establishment of a student-led health clinic. “Of all the activities I participated in at UVic, peer helping, hands-down was the most fulfilling,” she says.
Taking leadership seriously, Dahle committed to a number of initiatives early in her education. She was a four-term president of the Health Sciences Students Association (HSSA) and during her tenure she organized student-led conferences, lectures and forums. She worked with Dr. Judy Burgess (nursing) on the UVic Health Care Team Challenge, which demonstrated the effectiveness of interprofessional collaboration, helping to shed a light on the value of health informatics professionals to the health care field.
Dahle says of her work with Burgess, currently director of UVic Health Services, “Judy goes out of her way to open doors for people, and I really appreciated her support.”
Dahle received numerous awards and scholarships including the national $12,500 Millennium Excellence Award, supporting talented Canadians who demonstrate leadership, community contributions and the ability to motivate others. With this award she went on to volunteer in a Ugandan hospital working with pregnant mothers and HIV patients. In 2008 she received the COACH (Canada’s Health Informatics Association) Founding President's Award, for the Canadian student considered most likely to make a major contribution to the advancement of information technology in the Canadian health care system.
Always looking for ways to engage, Dahle has worked hard to bring awareness to the many attributes of a program that is in demand, has opportunities for substantial salaries and where graduates are in short supply.
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