DATA SCIENCE: The Doctory of Data?

Can Data Science and Medicine Share the Same Heartbeat?

Hassan Ahmed Rana
2 min readSep 2, 2023
AI-Generated

This year, I began my journey to become a data scientist. Given my medical background, I initially had no interest in data science and was completely unaware of the term. Over time, I’ve made an effort to comprehend this field and I’ve come to the realization that a data scientist is, in a way, like a doctor. I believe there are certain qualities that a doctor should possess, and interestingly enough, a successful data scientist should possess them as well.

Doctors diagnose ailments and create treatment plans, while data scientists deal with a variety of data-related issues and come up with effective analytical approaches. A doctor needs to have strong observational skills and be able to analyze problems effectively. Similarly, a data scientist should possess the patience to thoroughly analyze data and draw conclusions through careful observation. A doctor should demonstrate a high level of curiosity and concern for their patient’s problems. Similarly, data scientists can create valuable insights by demonstrating a deep understanding of the issue at hand and utilizing their curiosity to explore potential solutions.

Both professions require staying up-to-date with the latest advancements. Medical practices evolve, and new diseases and treatments emerge. In data science, new techniques, tools, and technologies continually emerge.

One of the traits which help in both professions to excel is good communication skills. The better you communicate with your client, the better you understand the problem and his needs and expectations. Communicating exceptionally with your client in both professions is really helpful and necessary.

At last, I believe there’s nothing we can not achieve. All we need to excel ourselves and try to be a better version our self. I recommend you and I to focus on these traits to become a better data scientist:

  • Observation skills.
  • Analyzing ability.
  • Patience.
  • Curiosity.
  • Willingness to explore and experiment.
  • Adaptability.

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