Here, we continue to promote the human resources, activities, and projects of the Southern Health Institute (HSU) by talking to our people. This time, Aðalheiður Ásgeirsdóttir is the interviewer, but she is a senior health data scientist at HSU and has an office in Selfoss. Aðalheiðir's team employs eleven health data scientists, all women.

KEY ROLE
Health data scientists play a key role in the health system, and Aðalheiður says his job is varied and fun. "The best thing about HSU as a workplace is the good staff and morale. Everyone here is doing their best to provide good service and promote good morale. I think we are all united in developing a truly exemplary workplace here. In addition, we are constantly introducing new and progressive things. There has been a lot of progress at HSU in recent years, making everything so fun," says our interviewee.

BORN IN DJÚPIVOGUR
Aðalheiður was born in Djúpavogur and lived there until the age of four, but then moved to Hveragerði with his parents and siblings. After attending the traditional elementary school in Hveragerði, Aðalheiður studied at Skógaskóli for about one year, then studied cosmetology at the polytechnic school in Breiðholt and graduated as a medical secretary from the polytechnic school in Ármúla. Five years ago, she added health informatics at the University of Iceland.

A RANGER'S LICENSE
Aðalheiði is not bored at all on the road to education, and a decade ago, for example, she added to her studies at the Environmental Agency, where she obtained a ranger's license. She also learned to play the piano and sing in her younger years. "But if we look at my career so far, I started looking after children and working in youth work, then I worked in greenhouses in Hveragerði and at Dvalarheimilin Ási doing various jobs. Also worked at the hospital in Neskaupstaður, where I lived for four years. Then started working as a medical secretary at the NLFÍ Institute of Health. I also ran my beauty salon for fourteen years or until I started working as a medical secretary and later as a health data scientist at the Southern Health Institute in 2002."

PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS AND SPORTS
But how are Aðalheiður's family affairs? "My husband is Kristinn Grétar Harðarson and he works in computer services at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. We have three children and five grandchildren. It is wonderful to have grandchildren and to be able to participate in their upbringing. Outside of work, I have a passion for all outdoor activities and sports, such as running, swimming, cycling, and hiking in the mountains and mountains, as well as skiing in the winter. I'm still very interested in music and needlework."

EARLY INTEREST IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM
She chose her career mainly because it is both diverse and lively. "I love my job as it is both challenging and fun. I have always found healthcare interesting and always wanted to work in the healthcare system. When I was in the top grade of the grammar school in Hveragerði, for example, we kids were invited to go to a job presentation for one week. I chose to go to the Hospital in Selfoss, which is today the Southern Health Institute. But if I had to choose a new career, I would probably choose the job of a reporter. I used to play reading the news when I was a child!"

SUPERVISOR AND SYSTEM MANAGER
Aðalheiður is the head of health data scientists at HSU and also the coordinator and system manager of the medical record system Saga at HSU. "As a manager, my job includes, for example, filling all positions and promoting quality work practices, as well as trying to be a good role model and maintain good morale. As the system manager of Sago, my job consists in adapting the medical records system to our institution. It also includes the access management of medical personnel to the medical record system and monitoring of the registration and structure of the system. In addition, I teach the system and am the liaison between HSU and the customer service department of Helix, which is the developer of the system."

INTERDISCIPLINARY ROLE
"Health data scientists ensure the comprehensive maintenance of health information in the health system and ensure that security and access to it is guaranteed. They are responsible for receiving health information, organizing records, coding, processing storing, and sharing information. Health data scientists also involve interdisciplinary teamwork in the health field and work extremely closely with other professions on diverse projects related to data processing," concludes our interviewee, Aðalheiður Ásgeirsdóttir.