Meet NTT DATA People
Anand Sampath
Practice Director – Healthcare DX
Anand Sampath is based in Singapore and has been working in the technology and healthcare industries since 1999 creating technology product solutions. His passion is in innovative thinking, which he doesn’t just apply to his work, but also to his out of work pastimes, such as mentoring youths and contributing to United Nations activities. Since 2020 he has been working at NTT DATA on developing Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) to improve clinical outcomes for Radiology departments in major Singapore hospitals.
NTT DATA’s innovative approach to product development is fantastic.
Tell us about an interesting project.
I am working on a groundbreaking project with the Ministry of Health here in Singapore. The project focuses on adopting the use of AI and ML directly into the clinical workflow. I believe that this approach, which we are pioneering in Singapore, might even be the first of its kind in the world. In a nutshell, a full lifecycle has been defined on a single technology platform that captures anything that needs clinical research or funding and is visible to clinical adopters, funders, and regulators. It’s an amazing piece of game-changing technology.
One great example of how this technology has a positive social impact is in diagnostics. During the Covid pandemic we could use the AI to read the x-rays of patients admitted to hospital. That program could determine the probability of the patient having Covid and inform the on-site doctor of the result. It also uses ML to feed back into the algorithm to improve clinical decision-making. In effect, it was able to reduce the amount of time Radiologists took to read x-rays from 5 minutes to just 15 seconds.
This is a great example of how innovative thinking and being brave in the application of technology is making a big difference to people’s lives. And that is something I am very proud of.
Why do you like life at NTT DATA?
Since the Covid pandemic, it has been popular for most people to choose to work at home. But for me, I prefer working in the office. In fact, I thrive best in that environment because I like interacting with people at close quarters. The office where I work for NTT DATA offers me two clear advantages compared to working at home. The first is that it enables me to learn from people in an ad hoc way, whether it’s from a tap on the shoulder or while grabbing coffee, I can always talk to people.
The second is that being in the office gives me a fantastic opportunity to be part of a cohesive team that is dedicated to realizing our group’s mission, which is to become a Trusted Global Innovator, where we aim to create a sustainable future and address social challenges by connecting people with technology. We call this initiative, Realizing a Sustainable Future.
What values are important in your work?
At NTT DATA we have three core Values. Those are to put the Clients First, to use Foresight, and to prioritize Teamwork. In my opinion everything starts with teamwork, so wherever I can I try to connect with people, understand what makes them tick and use those insights to create innovative-thinking teams.
This way of thinking comes from something outside of work that is very important to me. I mentor kids and train them to play and perform Indian music. To do that well, I have to bond with the kids and teach them how to come out of their shells. Some have grown in confidence so well that they now perform for international stage shows.
I think my honesty and clarity with the kids and people in my private life matches the Values of NTT DATA, which is why I love working there so much, hopefully for many more happy years.
