Introduction-Faculty

Introduction-Faculty

by MaryAnn Connor -
Number of replies: 5

Welcome, everyone. I’m MaryAnn Connor, PhD, RN, and it’s a privilege to lead you into AHI‑CCD‑C201: Clinical Workflow & Nursing Informatics.

My journey to this role began in oncology nursing. During my 32 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I implemented numerous clinical and operational technology systems, gaining a deep understanding of how workflow, communication, and system design directly shape the clinician experience.

Today, as a Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Connexall, that mission continues: ensuring technology truly supports safe, holistic, patient‑centered care.

You may wonder why we devote an entire course to workflow. It may sound administrative, but in practice, workflow is the foundation of safe, effective technology design. In high-acuity environments like oncology, fragmented workflows aren’t just frustrating; they’re risky. When alerts don’t reach the right person or critical data is buried in the EHR or on paper, friction builds, burnout rises, and patient outcomes can be compromised. In this course, we aren’t just mapping processes; we’re designing safety nets. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Analyze clinical and oncology‑specific workflows using standard mapping tools, including swimlane diagrams and process flow charts.

  • Evaluate EHR design through the lens of human factors engineering and patient safety, recognizing design risks and usability failures.

  • Propose informatics‑based solutions that leverage nursing knowledge and data to measurably improve oncology clinical outcomes.

In addition to my CNIO role, I also teach graduate nursing informatics at New York University, and I’m excited to bring that same energy and curiosity into our work together.

Over the coming weeks, I encourage you to share your most pressing clinical challenges. Our assignments will serve not just as academic exercises but as blueprints you can bring back to your organizations to drive real digital transformation.

I look forward to learning from your diverse experiences and seeing how your perspectives shape our discussions.

MaryAnn Connor, PhD, RN, NI-BC, CPHIMS, FAMIA, FHIMSS

In reply to MaryAnn Connor

Introduction-Faculty

by Olatunde Olaniyi Abiodun Oluwafemi -

Hello MaryAnn,

Thank you for the introduction, quiet informative and enlighten.

I am excited and looking forward to build an homegrown software solution to the pressing issue of data fragmentation (silos) resulting in interoperability and loss of data integrity  at my center from your depth of knowledge.

Thank you.

In reply to MaryAnn Connor

Introduction-Faculty

by Aromolaran Precious Adebisola -

Hi MaryAnn,

Pleased to meet you.

I'm so excited for the coming weeks, I'd be learning from a professional that has vast experience in Nursing Informatics. Now, I'm sure that by that by the end of this session, I'd be so able to integrate health informatics into Nursing profession, practically. 

Thank you.

In reply to MaryAnn Connor

Re: Introduction-Faculty

by Nzenwa Magnus Nnaemeka -

Welcome, Dr. Connor.

Thank you for sharing your journey. 32 years at MSKCC and a role as a chief nursing informatics officer—that says a lot about the depth of experience you are bringing to this course. I also come from oncology (social work), so I hear you clearly when you say that fragmented workflows are not just frustrating but risky. In my own experience, when critical information gets buried or delayed, it is always the patient who pays the price.

I am especially looking forward to learning how to map workflows, propose informatics‑based solutions, and identify design failures. Too often, we blame the user when it is actually the system that is broken.

Thank you for making the connection between workflow and patient safety. That is why I am here.

Welcome again.

In reply to MaryAnn Connor

Introduction-Faculty

by Emelike Prince Samson -

Hello Dr Connor,

I am delighted and already looking forward to the experience of learning from you and sharing my experiences with you and the whole team. 

Thank you.

In reply to MaryAnn Connor

Re: Introduction-Faculty

by Janiel Johnson -

Thank you, Dr. Connor, for taking the time to teach us and for explaining how clinical workflow connects to patient safety and oncology care outcomes. I appreciate your emphasis on workflow as a safety net, especially in high-acuity settings where small gaps can have a big impact. I look forward to learning how to better analyze and improve these processes and apply them to real-world challenges in my practice.