Episode #135. Code Blue: Cybersecurity Is the New Emergency, with Dr. Leanne Field, clinical professor and academic affairs faculty associate at the University of Texas
One of the most urgent lessons from this conversation is that healthcare cybersecurity must become everyone’s responsibility, not just IT's.
In this episode, Dr. Leanne Field shares how a pioneering Healthcare Cyber Risk Management micro-credential program equips healthcare professionals, from physicians to National Guard members, with real-world skills to address growing cyber threats. She also reflects on her career journey, national cyber resilience efforts, and the program’s future, encouraging students to use their skills to protect patient safety.
Tune in and learn how cross-disciplinary collaboration shapes healthcare cybersecurity's future!
For more information and ways to increase risk awareness and safety, visit us at www.censinet.com.
About Dr. Leanne Field:
Leanne H. Field, Ph.D., M.S., is a Clinical Professor and Founding Director of the Public Health Program at The University of Texas at Austin and an Adjunct Public Health at UT Health's School of Public Health. She has expertise in human infectious diseases, emerging diseases, health informatics, health IT, public health informatics, and healthcare cybersecurity. Dr. Field has created multiple educational programs for the university, including the newly launched Leadership in Healthcare Cyber Risk Management professional education program she directs. She is committed to working with industry, academic, and governmental leaders to build our nation’s healthcare cybersecurity workforce.
Dr. Field has been an active Health Sector Coordinating Council's Cybersecurity Working Group member for eight years. In the past three years, she has served in a leadership position on the Executive Committee as the Chair of the Public Health subsector. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Healthcare and Public Health Joint Cyber Security Working Group, which was convened to strengthen the preparedness and resilience of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health organizations against cyberattacks.
Things You’ll Learn:
- Cybersecurity in healthcare can no longer be siloed within IT departments; professionals across clinical and administrative roles must be involved in managing risk.
- The micro-credential program offers short, skill-based courses that blend academic theory with real-world applications, such as risk assessments and boardroom simulations.
- Students from various backgrounds, including physicians, CISSP-certified leaders, and military members, have already seen a transformative impact on their professional goals.
- The program’s structure is intentionally designed for working professionals. It features flexible asynchronous content and live weekly strategic discussions.
- Public health organizations are underprepared for cyber threats, and current research led by Dr. Field aims to bridge that gap with better training and resources.