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Practitioner Profile: Danita Patel
Brian Flaherty | Reading time: about 4 min
Danita Patel is a Program Manager and Human-Centered Design Lead within the Division of Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Quality Systems (DHAQS) supporting the QIO Deliverable Invoice and Vouchering Systems (QDIVS), Quality Management Review System (QMARS), and helps to impart her knowledge of Human-Centered Design principles and practices throughout ISG as a whole.
We sat with Danita and asked her about her work, HCD, and what makes her tick.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I’m still fairly new to my position so no day is ever really the same, nor do I think it ever will be! I try to start by going over my schedule, reading and reviewing information, or getting prep work done for upcoming meetings. I’ll also go through my emails and tasks lists to complete anything that might’ve rolled over from the day before. The majority of my day is spent in meetings to support the ongoing QDIVS work for DARRT and FIVS and helping to inform the decisions made for the new QMARS strategy.
How does your job promote better practice of Human-Centered Design at CMS?
I’m in an interesting spot within CMS, in that, I have a strong background in HCD and I will hopefully be able to inspire and influence other ISG employees and contractors to be mindful of the practice and encourage them to shift their focus from just building technical solutions to recognizing and solving user problems.
Is Human-Centered Design important? Why?
Absolutely! Incorporating human-centered design leads to more accessible, inclusive, easy to use products that actually solve real-world problems for people.
What do you feel makes Human-Centered Design unique?
What comes to mind is having empathy or a deep understanding of the people who will use the product. It’s not just about making products that work, it’s putting yourself in the user’s shoes to create meaningful products for them.
Can you provide an example of HCD methodologies being applied to a project/program that has proven more successful than otherwise would have been had HCD not been applied?
Before my current position, I had the opportunity to work on CCSQ Support Central. Our team was informed that there had been an effort to deliver a portal such as this a couple of years prior, but it was unsuccessful. When we restarted the project, we were able to pivot and use HCD to go through discovery, ideation, prototyping, and testing to deliver a product that meets user expectations and supports business goals.
What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?
Research and collaboration.
What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?
Traveling, reading a good book, spending time with family or friends, attending UX events and learning new things, going to the gym, and buying unnecessary things from Amazon.
Throughout your career, who is someone you admire, acted as a mentor, and/or changed the way you perform your job?
One of the first HCD books I read was “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman, so I guess I could credit him for introducing me to my career path.
The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
“Just vibe bro”
On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me…
At brunch with friends in the city
Which magazine would you take on a long flight?
The New Yorker & Entertainment Weekly.
If I weren't so damn good at my job, I'd probably be...
Traveling the world.
Cats or Dogs (or Other)?
I don't like animals that much.
The most important thing I learned before I finished high school was...
To accept opportunities to get out of my comfort zone.
My favorite person, people, or thing(s) is...
My favorite person right now is my two-month-old niece, Maia, who is the cutest little nugget ever!
If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve...
Self-care/mindfulness/meditation day
Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grow up?
A professional dancer/ballerina.
What is a cause or charity that you care about?
The Arthritis Foundation.
:: THANK YOU FOR SHARING DANITA! ::
Brian Flaherty
Brian is currently a Senior Design Strategist with the Human-Centered Design Center of Excellence (HCD CoE). Brian has been a graphic designer for more than 25 years, and has been practicing human-centered design for at least 13. Prior to joining Tantus as an HCD Strategist, Brian spent 12 years as a Creative Director, Communications Supervisor, and HCD Practitioner at Johns Hopkins University supporting classified and unclassified communications, primarily for the Department of Defense. Brian holds a BA degree from the University of Pittsburgh where he majored in Creative Writing and Public Relations. Brian is happily married, has a daughter just about ready to begin college, and considers two cats, two dogs, 26 chickens, three ducks, a crested gecko, and a ball python named Noodles his step children.
