A day in the life of a Data Storyteller: Transforming numbers into meaningful narratives in Public Health

A Day in the Life at MOHT series

One of MOHT’s strengths stems from having a pool of talents from diverse backgrounds, facilitating the cross-diffusion of learning and insights within the organisation and across the ecosystem.

“A Day in the Life at MOHT” is a MOHT blog series where featured colleagues relate how their individual talent, experience and practice has enriched MOHT’s tapestry of contributions towards the transformation of Singapore’s healthcare.

In the seventh edition, we look at a day in the life of data scientist, Phang Ye Sheng from the Data Science & Technology team at MOHT.

Contributed by Victoria Koh

You’ve probably seen this before: the annual Spotify Wrapped.

Data storytelling at its best – the annual Spotify Wrapped

Have you ever wondered what such an infographic might reveal about an individual? What insights could it offer into their musical tastes? And if I told you this belonged to someone at MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT), who would you imagine it to be? My bet – someone pretty cool, like me!

Well, full disclosure: that Spotify Wrapped Roundup was mine. Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’ve been a Senior Data Analyst at MOHT for more than four years. As a data analyst with the Future Primary Care team, I use data to tell stories, much like the insights gleaned from Spotify Wrapped, to inform decisions within the local health system with the aim of enhancing primary care. I combine analytical skills with a deep understanding of public health dynamics to craft engaging narratives. I’m excited to share a glimpse into a typical day of a data storyteller in a healthcare transformation unit.

At its core, data storytelling is the art and science of communicating insights and recommendations from data analysis in a compelling manner. Sometimes it involves taking complicated concepts and distilling them to a simpler format, tailored to each audience. It is especially important in healthcare, where data can inform decisions that affect the lives and well-being of millions of people. My journey into data storytelling began with a passion for solving puzzles. From a young age, I relished the challenge of unravelling complex problems, whether it was piecing together a crossword or a jigsaw puzzle. Making sense of disparate information to reveal the bigger picture is immensely satisfying. This passion steered me towards a Master of Public Health (MPH), fuelled by a desire to apply problem-solving skills to real-world challenges in healthcare. My interests have led me through various roles within public health, including health services research, pharmaceutical consulting, and public health administration. Each experience provided a unique lens to view the intricate complexities of public health challenges. These diverse experiences coalesced and shaped my trajectory towards becoming a data storyteller.

A typical day starts with a cup of black coffee, as I hop onto calls with stakeholders across the healthcare system to understand the specific challenges they face and the outcomes they aim to achieve. This understanding allows me to pinpoint the datasets needed to address these issues effectively. Thereafter, I work with colleagues (both from within MOHT and across the ecosystem such as MOH) gather such data from what can be myriad sources. This process can be time-consuming, as it often involves understanding where the data resides in the system, identifying the data owner and putting in data requests before any analysis can begin. One of my earliest endeavours at MOHT involved analysing national datasets on healthcare utilisation and costs to uncover patterns of multimorbidity. This project was a massive undertaking as the data resided in various entities with distinct owners. I had to chart where each type of data resided and approach various stakeholders, sharing our plans and justifications for access. Through these collaborative efforts, we not only acquired the necessary data but also forged strong partnerships that underpinned our collective mission to drive positive change in the management of multimorbidity.

The Future Primary Care (FPC) team after one of our many meetings

In between meetings, I carve out time for data visualisation – a crucial step in which insights are transformed into visual narratives. Presenting data in an intuitive and digestible manner is critical for the effective communication of key findings and trends. One project that stood out for me was the development of a quantitative model to simulate the impact of non-communicable diseases on health and cost to inform policy decision-making in Singapore. Collaborating with researchers and policy administrators, we adapted a simulation model that visually depicted the impact of various public health interventions on chronic disease outcomes. Leveraging stock and flow diagrams from the system dynamics simulation modelling technique, we crafted a visual overview of a quantitative simulation model of six risk factors of major chronic diseases in Singapore. This model provides a testbed for policy interventions and can generate estimates of health and economic impacts, including mortality rates, healthcare utilisation and costs. By illustrating the model as a schema and presenting simulation results visually through charts and tables, we empowered decision-makers with a better understanding of the system of chronic disease management and identified potential points for intervention.

A conceptual view of the simulation model

Finally, the remaining portion of my day is usually dedicated to preparing reports and presentations for meetings, ensuring that our findings reach the right stakeholders. These engagements are key to disseminating our insights and strengthening our partnerships with policymakers, clinicians and administrators. By equipping them with the knowledge necessary to catalyse positive change in public health, we amplify the impact of our collaborative efforts within the system. One of my ongoing projects that embodies this dedication is the evaluation of our general practitioner (GP) led projects, funded by our GP Innovation Initiative (GPII). In this role, I work closely with the GPs and their teams to identify suitable outcome measures and develop robust methodologies to evaluate their pilots. The resulting evaluation reports are presented to our policy colleagues at MOH through regular exchanges, facilitating data-driven insights to gauge programme effectiveness and shape future initiatives within the larger health system.

FPC team at one of our regular get togethers

Do you recall at the start of this article I mentioned I have been at MOHT for four years? It doesn’t sound like a long time, but considering MOHT itself is only six years old I am one of the ‘longer tenured’ ones.

This meant I was at MOHT during the peak of the COVID pandemic. As a data analyst, my work requires accessing datasets in a secure premise – so I was one of the few allowed to come back to the office. It did mean I got caught up in some unintended cameo activities such as the filming for MOHT’s 3rd Anniversary video.

Does a future in showbiz await? Filming for MOHT’s 3rd anniversary video

My involvement at MOHT extends beyond my core responsibilities in data. I had the privilege of contributing to significant company milestones by being a part of the Culture & Collaboration staff committee, where I leverage my ability to make sense of information and chart steps to foster a more cohesive and collaborative work environment. Recently, I had the opportunity to co-lead the organising committee of our inaugural Dinner & Dance, where I used my storytelling skills to spread the word and create buzz for the event over a four-month lead up period. Needless to say, we had a blast!

The alien crew, aka the organising committee for MOHT’s inaugural D&D

Outside of work, data storytelling also permeates my life. Just as I analyse data to uncover insights professionally, I adopt a similar approach to fitness, tracking my progress and adapting strategies to optimise results. Data can reveal patterns and trends; similarly, each gym session reveals personal patterns in physical performance and wellness, offering valuable insights into my overall health. Ultimately, both pursuits share a common goal: to empower individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Data storytellers wear many hats – from analyst to communicator, and everything in between. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to translate data into tangible outcomes for public health. And I, for one, am grateful to be part of this important work every single day.