Journey Magazine | Page 50

ALUMNI BONDS NOT EASILY BROKEN making an impact WITH THE HELP OF THE GENERATION BEFORE THEM UPDATES Alumnus spotlight: Brady Augustine ’95 He and his wife, Carmela, live in Tallahassee and have three children: Taylor, Andrew, and Isabella. He is also actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and serves as an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 118. Augustine recently gave a lecture at Auburn University titled, “The Rise of the Health Data Scientist,” sponsored by the College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Auburn University Libraries. 1 When did you become interested in statistics and analytics/what made you decide to build a career in that field? Brady Augustine is a leader in health systems operations and improvement and is currently the president of Aggressive Analytics Inc., a consulting firm that provides leadership in the areas of Medicare and Medicaid operations, health systems development, health information technology, value-based purchasing, operational and clinical research, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement. He has more than 20 years of experience managing teams and budgets for private sector firms and government agencies and has held roles in many professional societies where he has received numerous awards for his innovation. Before joining Aggressive Analytics Inc., Augustine served as chief of health systems development for the Agency for Health Care Administration in Tallahassee, Florida, where he directed the bureau responsible for improving Florida’s use of managed care principles to increase value of healthcare delivered to Florida Medicaid beneficiaries. Augustine received a master’s degree in statistics with a concentration in biostatistics and econometrics and a bachelor’s degree in applied discrete mathematics from Auburn University. As a child, I used to do fantasy football and fantasy baseball before it was appreciated by others. I remember modifying 20 decks of cards to match strengths and weaknesses of fictitious players and then using these probabilities to play a season of games. At Auburn, I remember wondering how in the world could I find a career that took advantage of the things I cared about: public policy, finance, healthcare, and analytics. It took me a while, but eventually I got connected with Jerry Veeh in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Robert Ekelund in the Department of Economics, and I decided to work on a double master’s degree in statistics and economics. 2 Of what, thus far in your career, are you most proud? I am most proud of helping show that ‘quality pays’ in healthcare. I have had the honor of serving with teams at the federal, state, and local levels that have saved tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars. As W.E. Deming would say, the problems we face are not people problems but system problems, and that is the responsibility of management. This is where I wanted to help. COSAM ALUMNI CHOOSE DENTISTRY 3 4 5 What is your favorite Auburn memory? Too many to name. I worked as a firefighter at the Auburn Fire Department and a paramedic at East Alabama Medical Center during much of my time at Auburn and many of my favorite memories include the camaraderie I shared with my fellow first responders. Both Patton and O’Brien agree that the education they received from the College of Sciences and Mathematics effectively prepared them for professional school. How do you feel the College of Sciences and Mathematics prepared you for your career? COSAM taught me that math was not just one tool in an analytical toolbox but, rather, many different tools for many different purposes. It also taught me that, like with any tool in a toolbox, mathematics is only as good as the professionalism of the person using it. To this day, I do my best to uphold the American Statistical Association’s Ethical Guidelines. Where are you from originally/how did you choose Auburn? Though I grew up in Florence, Alabama, both my parents and most of my siblings went to the University of Tennessee. In fact, my father was a captain of the Tennessee football team in 1962, but I wanted to chart my own path. One day at the age of 10, I came home with a crimson T-shirt that read ‘Hold on Bear, I am on my way,’ which caused a bit of consternation in my house. My father said to me in a loving yet stern way, ‘son, that will not do…you can love Auburn, but Alabama is not allowed.’ However, it wasn’t the dentistry itself that sold Patton on what would be her future career. “I was your typical firstborn, parent pleaser, overachiever, nothing-less-than-an-A-is-goodenough student,” said Patton. As a child, being a doctor seemed to be the most lofty education goal a person could set, so naturally, I decided that is what I would become. I seemingly spent my entire life working toward that goal, and it wasn’t until I had nearly reached that goal that I took the time to realize that maybe, it was not for me.” After months of working at the East Alabama Medical Center, testing and preparing applications to medical school, Patton had what she can only describe as “a divine epiphany.” “I made an appointment to talk to Dr. Bill Dorgan, then assistant dean for health professions, and sat across from him with my heart in my throat,” said Patton. “I took a deep breath, and said ‘I don’t think I want to go to medical school.’ Dr. Dorgan then asked me if I had ever considered dental school and suggested that I go over to Dr. O’Brien’s office to see what I thought about dentistry.” Although Patton had never given serious thought to a career in dentistry, she agreed to spend a day at O’Brien’s practice. “I’m sure Dr. O’Brien thought I was the worst dental school candidate he had ever met,” Patton said jokingly. “To say that I knew nothing about dentistry is a vast understatement. He let me observe a few procedures, and I soon realized that I had a lot to learn about all of the things that dentists do.” 50 Journey/Spring 2016 “Dr. McLaughlin influenced me the most to go into dentistry, but the idea of working with my hands and helping people had always interested me,” said O’Brien. “Dr. McLaughlin is absolutely one of the finest dentists to ever practice dentistry, and I am so lucky to have had his mentorship.” Dr. Jennifer Morrissey-Patton ’96, wanted to go to medical school before a chance encounter with Dr. Michael O’Brien ’79, opened her eyes to the world of dentistry. “Dr. O’Brien and his staff seemed genuinely happy,” said Patton. “It was like the staff was this little family, joking with each other and helping one another. The patients even seemed happy, and that’s saying something considering they were at a dentist’s office. Dr. O’Brien told me that he loved his job. He had so much more autonomy than physicians did; from how many hours he worked, to choosing the people that he worked with. Plus, he could actually fix problems with his own hands in a matter of minutes. He didn’t just order tests, wait for results, and write prescriptions. He actually resolved problems from beginning to end, within an hour. I didn’t know squat about dentistry, but I knew that I was envious of that sort of joy that you could have going to work every day, and, just like his patients, I too was fixed within that hour.” Patt on went on to attend dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After graduation, she decided to remain in the Birmingham area where she worked in a general dentistry office. Three years later, Patton purchased the office and production doubled within two years. She has now been in practice at Hoover Family Dentistry for more than 15 years, with two dentists and nine employees on her team. Patton says she has never once regretted her decision to change career paths and owes it all to O’Brien. “It was obvious that all the Auburn students in my classes at UAB were very prepared for the basic science courses and, to some extent, the didactic as well,” said O’Brien. “A number of my former COSAM professors are now patients in my practice. While that is certainly a compliment to our practice, it is an even bigger testament to the confidence they have in their teaching, and in the quality of education COSAM is providing its students.” Throughout her career, Patton has mentored dental students in hopes of helping them find their paths, just as O’Brien helped find hers. “It’s a pleasant surprise to learn that my talks and exposure to former students was even noticed, much less revered,” said O’Brien. “If every dentist could spark the passion in a young student, then it will pay huge dividends for patients in the end. Many people never find the passion in their careers, or if so, not for very long. Jennifer’s patients can tell she is passionate about what she does, and I just feel very honored for her to credit me with the influence.” Now in his 33rd year of dentistry at O’Brien Dental in Auburn, O’Brien says he is more passionate about his work now more than ever. O’Brien was also steered into a career in dentistry by another Auburn alumnus and dentist, Dr. W.L. McLaughlin ’52. College of Sciences and Mathematics 51