Podcast Summary: "Building Meaningful Careers in Health IT with Helen Figge of MedicaSoft"

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast | Host: Erica Spicer Mason | Guest: Helen Figge, Chief Strategy Officer at MedicaSoft
Release Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Helen Figge, Chief Strategy Officer at MedicaSoft and Adjunct Professor at MCPHS University, shares her insights and advice on building rewarding and sustainable careers in health IT. She discusses the evolving landscape shaped by AI, the indispensable value of human skills, the importance of mentorship, and practical advice for early-career professionals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Helen Figge’s Background and Philosophy

• Helen’s Diverse Career Journey: Helen has experience working in large Fortune companies, startups, nonprofits, and academia. Her background as a pharmacist informs her pragmatic approach to health IT and process improvement.

  "I like to think of myself as very much diversifying my skills and continuing to learn and grow regardless of where I have been and am in my career." [01:20]

• Continuous Learning: Emphasizes lifelong learning and self-improvement, regardless of one’s career stage.

  "Continuing to educate yourself regardless of where you are in your career path." [01:50]

Navigating the Evolving Health IT Landscape

The Role of AI in Health IT

• AI as a Supplement, Not a Replacement: AI streamlines tasks but cannot substitute the irreplaceable value of human judgment, intuition, and empathy.

  "While AI supports process information, again, there is no substitute for the human factor in decision making...our ability to empathize...are essential for sustainability in any career path." [03:28]

Communication & Human Skills

• Human Touch Is Irreplaceable:

  "We lack such civility now in all parts of the world and all parts of jobs and operations. And I think being able to communicate, there's no replacement for the human touch, the human conversation, the human contact." [03:34]

• Communication and Empathy: Even with AI’s rise, foundational skills—communication, empathy, collaboration—are critical for meaningful careers.

  "Upskilling our communication skills are going to be paramount because...if we don't understand what you're saying, it's meaningless." [06:39]

Upskilling and Team Development

• Balanced Skill Building: Success in health IT requires a mix of technical competency and “human upskilling”—communication, critical thinking, and learning how to interpret and question AI-generated outputs.

  “It’s best to learn from someone who does a task well...mentoring and really cultivating anyone’s career...needs to be equipped to have the ability to interpret anything that you're put forward to.” [05:38]

Mentorship: Building the Next Generation

What Makes Mentorship Effective

• Trust, Guidance, and Practical Feedback: Mentoring succeeds when rooted in mutual respect, shared standards, and actionable feedback.

  “Mentoring is only truly sustainable through trust, guidance, setting standards and goals with shared experiences...creating a supportive relationship with constructive and valuable feedback is invaluable.” [07:13]

• Mentorship Is Not About Titles:

  "It is, it’s irrelevant the title of your mentor, but rather the skills you want to learn from them...my best mentors were those that...were able to really show a product from beginning to end." [08:36]

How to Find the Right Mentor

• Look for Substance, Not Status: Identify and learn from those who excel and embody the values you wish to emulate, regardless of hierarchy.

  “Who would I like to be like? Who...if I had to be one person and walk in their shoes, who would that person be? ...The greatest form of flattery is copying someone of how they do things.” [09:41]

• Emotional Intelligence and Civility: The decline in workplace civility is a concern; returning to basics like mutual respect, open-ended questions, and in-person engagement is essential.

  “The technologies have forced us to be antisocial. No one looks each other in the eye, no one picks up the phone...that is really causing havoc in people's career paths.” [11:28]

Career Pathways and Practical Advice for Newcomers

• Setting Practical Expectations:

  • Early career professionals should recognize the need for experience and gradual progression; overnight success is rare.
  • Assess what you enjoy, set realistic goals, and explore positions aligned with your passions.

  “Our careers follow us and we expand on them over time. And we really have to explore what skills do we each have that we find most rewarding...” [13:32]

• Inspiration from Leaders:

  "Someone asked Judy Faulkner of Epic, the CEO, you know what drives you? And...Judy saying every day has something she wakes up to that she is excited to do, and that created EPIC. So she has been my mentor for the last 20, 30 years..." [14:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------| | "There's no replacement for the human touch, the human conversation, the human contact." | Helen Figge| 03:34 | | “Mentoring...is only truly sustainable through trust, guidance, setting standards and goals with shared experiences.” | Helen Figge | 07:14 | | "It is...irrelevant the title of your mentor, but rather the skills you want to learn from them." | Helen Figge | 08:36 | | “The greatest form of flattery is copying someone of how they do things.” | Helen Figge| 09:54 | | “The art of civility creates what we live and breathe in and work in and sustain ourselves in.” | Helen Figge | 16:19 | | “Careers are not just acquiring degrees and certifications. It's the subjective things around those successes that make a career.” | Helen Figge | 16:38 |

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00–01:19 – Introduction of Helen Figge and her background
• 03:28–04:53 – The evolving health IT landscape and role of human skills in an AI-driven world
• 05:29–06:55 – Importance of mentorship and upskilling communication
• 07:13–09:35 – Effective mentorship, finding the right mentor, and the role of civility
• 13:32–15:14 – Practical advice for students and career-switchers, inspiration from industry leaders
• 15:35–17:02 – Final takeaways on finding purpose and giving back in your career

Final Takeaways

• Find What Motivates You: Choose a career path that excites you every morning; passion and enthusiasm are key to sustainability.
• Develop Both Technical and Human Skills: AI and advanced technologies are powerful tools, but cannot replace effective communication, empathy, and critical thinking.
• Value Mentorship and Civility: Seek mentors based on skills and approach, not just titles. Cultivate human connections and respect—these are as vital as technical know-how.
• Career Is a Journey, Not a Destination: There’s value in learning from each step, setting practical expectations, and being open to growth and change.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating (or supporting others through) the fast-changing world of health IT, especially those striving to integrate technology with the timeless values of mentorship, communication, and civility.