Tammy So ’26 has always been driven by a desire to help others.
As a registered nurse at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, she works on the front lines of patient care, delivering hands-on support, coordinating with care teams, and responding to patient needs in real time. But over time, Tammy began to see healthcare from a different perspective.
She didn’t just want to care for patients. She wanted to improve the systems behind that care.
A New Direction in Healthcare
Tammy’s academic background reflects her deep commitment to healthcare.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from SUNY Oneonta, followed by an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wagner College. While many in her position might continue into a traditional graduate nursing program, Tammy chose a different path. “I wasn’t interested in other graduate nursing degrees,” she explains. “I wanted to try something different.”
That “something different” was health informatics—a field that blends healthcare, data, and technology to improve outcomes at scale. With a natural interest in technology and computers, the transition felt like the right next step.
Why SUNY Poly
For Tammy, finding the right graduate program meant finding one that fit her life, not the other way around.
She chose SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s MS in Health Informatics because of its fully online format and clear structure. “I liked that the program laid out sample courses for each semester,” she says. “It helped me understand exactly what to expect.”
Even more important was the flexibility. “The program has been very flexible. All lectures are recorded and can be reviewed at any time,” Tammy shares. “That’s been especially helpful as a full-time employee and full-time student.”
Balancing It All
Tammy’s journey hasn’t been easy. While pursuing her degree, she has balanced a full-time role as a registered nurse, a full-time graduate course load, and even training for the New York City Marathon
At times, the pressure was overwhelming. “There was a point in my first semester where I thought about dropping out,” she admits. But she didn’t.
Through careful time management, prioritization, and an unwavering commitment to her goals, Tammy pushed through. “I kept an organized calendar and made school my priority,” she says. “Exercising also helped me clear my mind.”
That resilience has defined her experience, and her success.
Learning That Shapes the Future
One of the most transformative parts of Tammy’s journey has been her work as a graduate research assistant in the Health Informatics program.
Working alongside faculty, including Dr. Jerome Niyirora, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the MS in Health Informatics, she has contributed to the development of an end-to-end data pipeline designed to support scalable data storage, rapid cohort definition, reproducible feature engineering, and genotype–phenotype analysis for machine learning and biomarker discovery.
Through this experience, Tammy discovered what truly excites her. “Working on this genome project helped me realize what I want to do after I graduate,” she says. “I really enjoy problem-solving and ‘vibe coding.’”
Throughout her time at SUNY Poly, Tammy has found consistent support from faculty.
“All of the faculty members have been very supportive and prompt in their assistance and advice,” she says. “My questions are always answered.” That accessibility has been critical, especially for a student balancing so many responsibilities.
Growth Beyond the Classroom
Tammy’s journey has been about more than academics, it’s been about personal and professional growth. Over the past two years, she has become more confident in presentations and public speaking, calmer and level-headed under pressure, and certain about her career direction. Her experience has both reinforced her skills and her sense of purpose.
Looking ahead, Tammy is focused on using her skills to improve healthcare systems in meaningful ways.
She is especially passionate about improving workflows for healthcare workers, implementing cutting-edge technology, and advancing health equity in underserved communities.
Having recently graduated, she is stepping into a future where her clinical experience and informatics expertise come together. Her journey—from biology to nursing to health informatics—has positioned her to make a broader impact on healthcare systems, patients, and communities alike.
And she’s just getting started.