Hilary Chan

I love to code. It’s a bit like a puzzle, and I become completely focussed when I’m doing it. That’s one of the reasons I joined NHS Digital's graduate scheme last year.

But code alone won’t solve the issues we’re faced with in the NHS.

I’m currently working in the cyber team to support our threat intelligence capacity. It’s different from my first placement in the Data directorate, where there is an established toolkit to solve evolving problems. In cyber, we’re in an ever-changing landscape – and there’s a race to continually strengthen our interconnected systems before malicious actors find a way to exploit them.

I don’t have a STEM-related background, but I think this gives me a different perspective when thinking through problems and solutions.

I have a degree in psychology and I’m currently doing my master’s degree in translation. Going to classes makes me so happy. I think studying accelerates my ability to conceptualise problems and complex ideas, which can be really helpful in my work.

It’s very important to me that my work contributes to people’s lives. During the pandemic, I worked in a stroke ward. It was an intense experience that made me determined to join the NHS.