New Investigator: W. Scott Campbell, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2017 Scientist Laureate, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: W. Scott Campbell, Ph.D.
• Title: Assistant professor, director of Pathology Laboratory Informatics, UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine
• Joined UNMC: 2009 as a Ph.D. student, 2013 as faculty
• Hometown: Papillion, Neb. (originally from the Chicago suburbs)

Research focus:
Knowledge management

The goal of my research is: To capture knowledge as expressed by physicians and scientists in such a manner that the knowledge is retained in computable form and can be applied to support health care providers to deliver the best care possible to achieve the best outcomes possible.

My research will make a difference because: Binding the breadth of medical knowledge and information exceeds the capacity of the human mind. By representing medical knowledge in computable form, we can leverage the power of computers — that is, the ability to store massive amounts of information and data; and help providers do what only humans can do at the point of care — that is, to use available information to create and provide the best possible care plans for their patients with compassion.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
Not to confuse excellent with perfection. Excellence I can achieve. Perfection is God’s business.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• I went back to pursue a Ph.D. at age 45
• I have five children.
• I breed dogs as a hobby.