Q&A: Chair of Health Informatics

May 5, 2026

Headshot of Trenya GarnerThe MS in Health Informatics is one of the newest master's degrees at Brandeis Online. Hear from Dr. Trenya Garner about what makes the program stand out.

What is your current job title? How would you describe your role?

I serve as the program chair for the Health Informatics program at Brandeis Online. My role is a blend of academic leadership and student advocacy. I oversee curriculum development, support our faculty, and ensure academic quality to create an environment where students can thrive and feel supported throughout their learning journey.

Outside of my role at Brandeis, I serve as the Principal Systems Analyst for the Center for Healthcare Quality and Analytics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. There, I'm responsible for managing the hospital-wide safety metrics scorecard, event reporting database systems administration, and developing analysis reports for hospital data.

Why did you decide to get involved in the leadership of the Health Informatics program at Brandeis Online?

At some point, everyone interacts with the healthcare system, and technology is a major component in nearly every part of that experience. I was drawn to this role because health informatics sits at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and human impact. It can transform the way clinicians provide care and improve patient outcomes. Brandeis has a long-standing reputation for academic rigor, and I wanted to help shape and lead a program that prepares students to make meaningful contributions in a rapidly evolving field.

 

“Health informatics sits at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and human impact. It can transform the way clinicians provide care and improve patient outcomes.”

 

What makes Brandeis Online’s MS in Health Informatics unique?

The Health Informatics master’s at Brandeis Online has many great features, including a fully online, asynchronous learning experience. Courses are designed to focus on real-world application and provide opportunities for peer collaboration and teamwork. All courses are taught by seasoned industry leaders who bring many years of hands-on health informatics experience to the classroom. In addition, Brandeis’ mission-driven approach keeps equity, ethics, and patient-centered care at the forefront.

 

“Courses are designed to focus on real-world application and provide opportunities for peer collaboration and teamwork. In addition, Brandeis’ mission-driven approach keeps equity, ethics, and patient-centered care at the forefront.”

What courses in Brandeis Online’s MS in Health Informatics are important to highlight and why?

As this is a constantly evolving area of study, our courses address the fundamentals, real-world digital technology systems management, and industry challenges. Each course provides a holistic view of how technology impacts healthcare. 

For example, Introduction to Health Informatics: Clinical Foundations and Healthcare Workflows course sets the stage by grounding students in the core concepts and challenges of the field. Electronic Health Record Systems provides a simulated platform where students can have interactive, hands-on experience with sample datasets.

Healthcare Cybersecurity and Risk Management is needed as cyber threats increase; the security of patient data is indispensable, and Clinical Data Science and Machine Learning reviews how artificial intelligence impacts the analysis of healthcare data.

What are you most looking forward to about the Health Informatics program?

I’m most excited to watch students grow into leaders, innovators, and strong health informatics professionals who are fully prepared to embark on the challenges of the industry.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your healthcare career, the MS in Health Informatics at Brandeis Online might be right for you. To learn more about the program, visit our website or contact Dr. Trenya Garner at garnert@brandeis.edu.