Using analytics to overcome health-care challenges: Meet Professor Justin Boutilier

Assistant Professor Justin Boutilier has joined the Telfer School of Management as an expert in business analytics and information systems. He earned his PhD from the University of Toronto before taking up a position as a postdoctoral fellow at MIT’s prestigious Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab and Center for Transportation and Logistics. Before arriving at Telfer, he taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research aims to drive actionable analytics that can address pressing health and humanitarian challenges. He explores cutting-edge applications that combine predictive and prescriptive analytics, with a particular focus on global and planetary health, which have immense potential for producing lasting change. His work pushes boundaries by developing novel theories that merge optimization and machine learning, paving the way for new and impactful solutions.

Why did you choose to study business analytics and information systems? Any personal motivation behind your research interests?   

My research area focuses on analytics for social good, with a passion for transforming healthcare. My interest in improving health-care systems is inspired by my family’s legacy: both my mother and grandmother were emergency department nurses, while my father and grandfather were paramedics and firefighters. I have been around the healthcare system my entire life; I learned how to use an Automated External Defibrillator when I was 13 and worked as a medical first responder throughout my time as an undergraduate. 

How does your PhD training inform your current research program?  

My PhD was in operations research, which is a technical field at the intersection of math, engineering, and business; I tell people “it’s the most relevant field you’ve never heard of.”  We focus on using data to improve decision-making, and many of the challenges we face in health care are operational in nature. My technical training has allowed me to contribute to improving the quality, access, and delivery of health care in a variety of settings.

Do you have any new research highlights to share? Any interesting  new projects you’re excited about?  

Yes! I am actively working on projects at the intersection of digital and behavioral health. For example, I use the data collected by digital health technologies (e.g., cell phones, smart watches, etc.) to personalize behavioral health interventions that improve outcomes for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or tuberculosis.

How can your research influence business communities in Canada?  

My research focuses on influencing the healthcare sector, both in Canada and around the world. My research helps businesses leverage their data to make better decisions, especially in the face of uncertainty. For example, my work on hospital operations helps staff manage patient flow through the emergency department and optimize decisions around admissions and discharges. I am excited to contribute to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system in Canada and beyond.