Employee Spotlight – Amwell

Name: Dave Tran

Title: Manager, Mobile SDK

Department: Engineering

Start Date: October 28, 2013

“In some form or fashion, everyone wants to leave their legacy on the world. Amwell is making a difference in people’s lives by improving telehealth and I can’t think of a better way of leaving my legacy than by helping make healthcare more accessible and more affordable to everyone.”

What attracted you to Amwell?

My career has always been focused on making a positive difference in the lives of others and to take on new challenges. After spending seven years in the aerospace and defense industry where my work supported the U.S. military, I wanted to shift my focus toward helping other people in need. After a stint at another healthcare technology company, I came across Amwell and it was a perfect fit. Amwell gives me the opportunity to work on a product that has a direct impact on the consumer and challenges me to grow my technical skills in the mobile space.

What were you doing before you came onboard?

I worked at PatientKeeper, a healthcare technology company, where I was one of two Software Engineers responsible for architecting a next-generation solution that allowed physicians access to patient data using a web portal or mobile device. During my time at PatientKeeper, I became very familiar with business terms and concepts in the healthcare space, which helped make the transition from integrated defense systems at Raytheon, to telehealth visits at Amwell that much easier.

What does a day in the life of a Mobile SDK Manager at Amwell look like?

The Mobile SDK allows our clients to take the Amwell telehealth experience and seamlessly embed it within an existing mobile application. As the manager of this product, my time is spread across two main responsibilities. First, I manage the Mobile SDK development efforts. I work with my team to design, integrate, test, and deliver new features to maintain parity with the Amwell telehealth platform. Second, I help our clients explore and incorporate the features of the mobile SDK into their iOS and Android mobile apps. These two responsibilities are often intertwined, and leave me with new and exciting challenges to meet our clients’ needs. I never know what new challenges the next day might bring, but I know my team and I are always ready to take them on.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Outside of work, I volunteer my time and effort with a non-profit organization called One Brick Boston. Through One Brick Boston, I volunteer for different non-profit organizations throughout the city and help encourage others to volunteer for these great causes. I love being able to put my free time to good use and help make a positive impact on the community. I also enjoy having an active lifestyle, whether I’m running in an obstacle race, attending an American Ninja Warrior class or finding the next great adventure.

What are your thoughts on the ways healthcare is changing and what we can expect to see in the future?

The changes in healthcare have been long overdue. I’m excited to see that the tides are changing and that the healthcare industry finally sees the benefit of having telehealth visits. It’s even more apparent with the number of new prospects interested in the Mobile SDK. It’s only a matter time until having a telehealth visit is as common as searching a term on Google.

When you talk about telehealth and your role here with friends and family, what do you say?

When someone asks me what I do, I tell them I help deliver a simple way to see a doctor, anywhere and at any time, from your computer or your smart devices. I share my own visit experiences and how amazing it is to be able to avoid the hassle of traveling to the doctor’s office. I also explain that in my current role at Amwell, I get to see and help others use telehealth visits in new and different ways.