How Strategic Learning Fueled David Wild’s Journey in Health Informatics

For David Wild, empowering patients and caregivers through technology has become more than his career; it’s a lifelong mission. To support that mission, he knew he needed to keep learning.

“It was always my goal to earn a master’s degree,” he explained. “Although I had substantial experience in health IT, I realized there was much more to learn and achieve. Pursuing the advanced strategic skills required for leadership became my new pursuit.”

Now the Global Clinical Affairs Director of Digital Solutions at Becton Dickinson (BD), David’s journey is a testament to how strategic learning can ignite transformation, inspire innovation, and shape visionary leaders. After two decades of advancing healthcare technology, he decided to seize an opportunity to evolve his expertise into something even greater.

The opportunity? The Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies’ (SPS) online Master of Health Informatics program.

“When I read the curriculum, it felt relevant, not theoretical,” David said. “It was designed for career professionals pursuing continued education.”

David enrolled, and the curriculum provided the opportunity to become well-versed in healthcare informatics topics, ranging from meaningful use and electronic medical record systems to understanding care delivery disparities across different populations.

“Those things become far more meaningful when you have time to investigate the underlying stories behind the ‘why,’” he said.

This expanding knowledge proved timely. Seven classes into his program, David made a decision that reflected the strategic thinking Wake Forest promoted. At BD, he saw emerging opportunities in cloud infrastructure. With artificial intelligence rising in healthcare technology, he made what he calls a “calculated bet.”

“The program gave me a fresh outlook on education,” David said. “It gave me the confidence to identify and pursue gaps in my knowledge. I paused coursework for six months to focus on modern cloud infrastructure and architecture. I attribute that pause to learning how to seize unique opportunities,” he reflected.

During this period, David immersed himself in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its Cloud Development Kit (CDK) as a foundation to expand into AI projects using the same infrastructure.

“CDK became more than a technical tool. It became my framework for approaching projects,” he explained.

He soon had the chance to apply these new skills. When David faced a challenge at BD to improve systems-workflow in the clinical trial process, his education and experience came together. He didn’t treat it as a manual, tactical problem. Instead, he approached it with a strategy of redesigning systems for scale by integrating data from multiple systems and automating processes to reduce errors and manual work.

“This solution streamlined clinical trials, meaning faster access to treatments for patients,” David explained. “Fewer errors also mean better outcomes for caregivers managing these complex processes.”

“We want to remove unnecessary administrative burden,” David explained. “The goal is to build solutions that streamline clinical trials, meaning faster access to treatments for patients. “Fewer errors also mean better outcomes for caregivers managing these complex processes.”

Recently, he also had the chance to apply these skills in the Wake Forest Build-a-thon. David and his partner at the competition collaborated on a project involving cloud infrastructure concepts. 

“A cornerstone of that project was the very cloud development skills I dedicated six months to learning during the period when I stepped back from coursework,” he reflected. “It was a privilege to share what I’ve learned and pass those skills on to a fellow member of the community.”

The Master of Health Informatics program’s emphasis on strategic communication proved equally valuable.

“Almost every single class asks you to take on the persona of speaking to or being a leader,” David said. “You learn to ‘communicate up.’”

This practice directly shaped his leadership approach, driving him to plan for scale, reduce burnout, and ground his work in justification rather than reactionary responses. “Most importantly, it has made me far more effective at communicating with leadership, ensuring that complex technical ideas are presented in a way that supports transparent and informed decision-making.”

With these lessons under his belt, he resumed classes and expanded the number of AI classes on his schedule to further enhance his perspective building systems at scale and automation. As graduation approaches, David views his journey as validation of Wake Forest SPS’s ability to help professionals succeed while cultivating lifelong learning and blending theory with real-world practice. 

“The program has shown me that leading in healthcare technology is about cultivating a deeper understanding that empowers leaders to make better decisions and stronger strategies,” David reflected.

“Now I approach problems by first asking, ‘Why does this matter?’ and then designing solutions that address scale, resilience, and long-term value—ultimately to better serve the patients and caregivers my technology is designed to support.”

Learn more about Wake Forest SPS’s Master of Health Informatics online degree today.