My Story
My journey started as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Central Florida’s Center for Research in Computer Vision, where I worked on medical image analysis and automated target recognition—research that led to multiple publications, awards, and scholarships.
After earning my Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Master’s in Computer Engineering, I gained hands-on experience in health AI at Duke Health before transitioning to industry as a Data Analytics Training Specialist. Now, I work at the intersection of data analytics and behavioral health, building a data catalog for an enterprise data warehouse and training teams on business intelligence software.
In 2023, I founded My Therapist Said™, a clothing brand designed to destigmatize mental health conversations in the workplace. After a year of entrepreneurship and many hard-learned lessons, I chose to close the business to prioritize my own mental health. Now, I channel my creativity into arts, crafts, and exercise, while using social media sparingly.
Who I am today is a reflection of the hard work and resilience I’ve put into building a successful life. Growing up in poverty with a single mom, it was on me to create a better future for myself and my family—and I think I’ve done pretty well.
My Hobbies
Aside from working my 9-5, I enjoy a variety of other endeavors, including:
training for a half marathon
See my past races here.
Developing scripts and apps to improve productivity
My current projects include developing a Python program to generate a grocery list for a users’ chosen meals and creating an app to track my plants’ watering schedule (actually, this one is on hold).
writing non-fiction
Not only do I keep up with this blog, I’m also writing a memoir that shares my experiences with childhood (and college) trauma.
creating art
My current obsession is fused glass and epoxy resin. Check out my gallery!
volunteering at local non-profits
I volunteered with the Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh back in 2022-3, where I helped with event set-up and customer engagement. I even helped kids make a mini greenhouse to take home at the annual Fall PoeFest. I also volunteer at Good Hope Farm in Morrisville occasionally, where I assist with weeding and mulching native pollinator gardens. I also volunteer at the local food bank every so often. This year I plan on signing up to help women in need with job searching and tech careers.
My Achievements
See my portfolio for an in-depth look at my past projects and publications.
May 2025
publication
Comparison of adverse events, prescription medication, and costs after hip, knee, and shoulder total joint arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study was published in Arthroplasty
September 2024
publication
Developing a Computer Vision Model to Automate Quantitative Measurement of Hip-Knee-Ankle Angle in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients was published in Journal of Arthroplasty
February 2024
certification
Passed the examination for Certified Enterprise Analyst in MicroStrategy
November 2023
certification
Passed the examination for Certified Departmental Analyst in MicroStrategy
October 2023
career
Began working at Alliance Health as a Data Analytics Training Specialist
April 2023
whitepaper
Internally published Best Practices for Imaging Projects in the Healthcare Domain: A Guide to Completing a Successful Computer Vision Project at Duke Health
seminar
Presented A Guide to Conducting a Successful Computer Vision Project: Insights from Duke AI Health Fellows virtually to 100+ audience members
poster
Presented Bridging the Gap Between Health Data Science and Project Management at the Duke AI Health Spring Showcase
March 2023
certification
Passed the examination for Certified Associate in Project Management, issued by the Project Management Institute
December 2022
poster
Presented [In Progress] Developing a Deep Learning Pipeline to Measure the Hip-Knee-Ankle Angle in Full Leg Radiographs at the Duke AI Health Showcase
July 2022
certification
Received the Google Project Management Certificate
June 2022
outreach
Served as Senior Teaching Assistant for the Duke Machine Learning Summer School
January 2022
outreach
Served as Teaching Assistant for the Duke Machine Learning Virtual Winter School
September 2021
career
Began the Duke AI Health Data Science Fellowship in Durham, NC
August 2021
education
Graduated from UCF with a Master of Science in Computer Engineering
August 2020
education
Started pursuing a PhD in Computer Engineering at UCF
education
Graduated from UCF with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Minor in Cognitive Science
April 2020
award
Received the Fulbright Research Grant to conduct medical image analysis research in Lubeck, Germany – declined due to COVID-19
award
Received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to pursue a PhD in Computer Engineering at UCF
October 2019
publication
INN: Inflated Neural Networks for IPMN Diagnosis was accepted into the International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention
July 2019
outreach
Served as a Peer Mentor for the Summer Research Academy
June 2019
outreach
Traveled to Chiapas, Mexico for a service learning trip, where I taught English and Ultimate Frisbee to middle school students
May 2019
publication
Brown Adipose Tissue Activation Detected by Artificial Intelligence Assisted Radiomics: An Early Biomarker for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was published in Gastroenterology and presented at Digestive Disease Week
April 2019
outreach
Began serving on the Student Undergraduate Research Council
conference
Presented Fundamentals of Target Classification Using Deep Learning at SPIE Symposium on Defense and Commercial Sensing in Baltimore, MD, winning the Best Student Paper Award
poster
Presented Abdominal Adipose Tissue Quantification Using Deep Capsule Networks at the UCF Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence
August 2016
education
Started pursuing a BS in Computer Science at the University of Central Florida
Irene L. Matasa, MS 