HealthCa.mp/Boston

Joseph Cerro (twitter, LinkedIn) is a HealthCamp veteran, and he is one of the co-organizers of HealthCampBoston.

Please tell us a little about your day job.

I help data-focused organizations, large and small, to think through their business and technology strategies. With some projects, the emphasis is on developing business plans, while with others, the focus is more on the tech side. Nonetheless, to be successful, every project requires attention to the human side of the equation at least as much as the technical side. On any given day, you might find me working with clinicians, researchers, technologists, communications professionals, executive leadership, or investors – sometimes all in the same room!

What are you passionate about?

I love helping people to accomplish great things with their data. My background is in life sciences research and technology, with a lot of experience in the biopharma industry. I get very excited when I see the look on clients’ faces when the right technology or the right strategy gives them new insights into medicine or scientific discovery…and I despise when the wrong technology, the wrong business model, or software that is hard to use gets in the way of great care and great insights. Also, when it comes to healthcare, so much of what gets done in the technology space seems aimed at making the home more like the hospital; the opposite should prevail.

What are you doing to “hack” health care?

I create and encourage places where people from different parts of healthcare and often from outside of healthcare who normally don’t interact with each other can come together to seek better, more creative ways of improving healthcare in the US and around the world. That’s one reason why I help to organize HealthCamps!

Why are you attending HealthCamp Boston?

I’ve always thought that the greatest value at many conferences comes from the hallway conversations. HealthCamps often feel like giant hallway conversations, though they can also turn into highly practical workshops focused on getting impartant things done. From the first HealthCamp I ever attended (HealthCampPhiladelphia several years ago), I’ve been hooked, and I’ve helped to organize several, including the first HealthCampBoston in 2009 and last year’s HealthCampCT@Yale. I learn something new and important every time.

If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?

I’m on the board at a couple of non-profit support groups, and I’m interested in making sure that they get the most out of their social media and general web presences. I’m also working on some projects involving using consumerized mobile telemetry devices to improve the quality of care delivered by ACOs, etc. Either topic would be fun to delve into.

What kinds of people do you want to meet at HealthCamp?

People with different experiences and viewpoints from my own, yet who share the same commitment to improving healthcare. (Okay, fine, maybe I’ll be happy to meet one or two people who share my viewpoints, too! Just for a little moral support, eh?)