HHS Data Science CoLab
I led the design and execution of the two-part pilot in 2017-2018.
The HHS Data Science CoLab was created as a way to identify and build a homegrown community of data science practitioners within the US Department of Health and Human Services. By providing dedicated space, data science tools, permissions, instruction, and coaching, we supported 50 federal fledgling developers, data analysts and statisticians to join the pilot cohorts. Participants represented NIH, CMS, FDA, ACF, HRSA, AHRQ, and OCIO among others. Over 550 people applied to the pilot rounds. It is now fully funded at $1.5M per year.
The CoLab’s practicum component provided the Department a number of cross-organizational successes in data-sharing, new products, and modern data science applications including machine learning, text mining and analysis. There was also positive press for the Department and funding will continue for a second pilot cohort.
Perhaps the most important achievement has been in creating a sustaining cohort of data science practitioners who cross organizational boundaries and continue to interact regularly, troubleshooting code for one another, sharing resources and data, or just meeting up for coffee.
The CoLab was also created as a means for HHS leadership to research and identify day-to-day difficulties of data science practice within the agencies, common barriers and other prerequisites for the Department to address in order to become a modern, data-driven organization.
We incubated and operated the CoLab pilot thru the Office of Business Management and Transformation.
Recent Press:
https://www.fedscoop.com/hhs-colab-data-science-training/
Gov Innovator Podcast: CoLab
