Manuel Martinez hosts the Career Downloads podcast where he interviews a different guest each episode to learn about their individual and diverse backgrounds, job history, and techniques they use to manage their career. So plug in and download the knowledge.
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Manuel Martinez hosts the Career Downloads podcast where he interviews a different guest each episode to learn about their individual and diverse backgrounds, job history, and techniques they use to manage their career. So plug in and download the knowledge.
From Self-Taught Web Developer to Healthcare CIO with Angie Cosca | Ep045
Career Downloads
1 hour 18 minutes 29 seconds
2 months ago
From Self-Taught Web Developer to Healthcare CIO with Angie Cosca | Ep045
Episode Overview
Angie Cosca's career journey challenges every assumption about traditional tech career paths. Starting with no formal computer science education, she taught herself HTML using Notepad, worked her way up through help desk support, and eventually became CIO of a major healthcare organization - all while staying with the same company for 23 years.
Her story demonstrates the power of curiosity, relationship-building, and continuous learning in creating a successful technology career.
Key Takeaways
On Career Development:
- Formal education isn't required for tech success, but continuous learning is non-negotiable
- Taking on responsibilities beyond your job description opens unexpected opportunities
- Building relationships across the organization matters as much as technical skills
On Leadership:
- Understanding business workflows and pain points enables better technology solutions
- Collaborative hiring processes involving other departments improve team dynamics
- Second opinions and diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making
On Healthcare IT:
- Technology professionals in healthcare indirectly save lives by ensuring reliable systems
- Vendor relationships should be partnerships, not just transactions
- AI implementation requires careful change management to avoid employee fear
Guest Background
Angie Cosca serves as Chief Information Officer at Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging (SDMI), where she oversees IT infrastructure, compliance, and security for 12 locations serving 550+ employees. The organization processes approximately 500,000 diagnostic studies annually, including MRIs, CTs, X-rays, and ultrasounds.
Beyond her corporate role, Angie is President of ISSA Las Vegas and dedicates extensive time to mentoring through IT Works, a 16-week intensive program helping disadvantaged students transition into technology careers.
Resources Mentioned
- IT Works: 16-week intensive IT program for disadvantaged students
- ISSA Las Vegas: Information Systems Security Association chapter
- PACS: Picture Archival Communication System for medical imaging
- UNLV Negotiation Course: Referenced for professional development
Episode Highlights
- The Power of Curiosity: How asking "why" and observing workflows leads to better solutions
- Vendor Partnership Strategy: Building relationships beyond transactional interactions
- Mentorship Impact: The long-term relationships formed through programs like IT Works
- Healthcare Technology: Understanding the life-saving implications of reliable IT systems
Connect with Angie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-cosca/
ISSA Las Vegas: https://www.lvissa.org/
Career Downloads
Manuel Martinez hosts the Career Downloads podcast where he interviews a different guest each episode to learn about their individual and diverse backgrounds, job history, and techniques they use to manage their career. So plug in and download the knowledge.
