Joanna Abraham is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics (I2DB). She is also the director for the center for applied health informatics at I2DB. Dr. Abraham has an interdisciplinary training and background in computer science, applied clinical informatics, human factors, and implementation science. She is the Principal Investigator of the SAFE-T (Supporting Advancements for Frontline Excellence in patient safeTy) Lab, which focuses on five core areas: (1) handoffs and care transitions; (2) medication ordering and reconciliation; (3) artificial intelligence in perioperative care; (4) telemedicine vigilance; and (5) perioperative mental health and pain. The central focus of her research endeavors in the SAFE-T lab is on the development and implementation of cutting-edge and sustainable evidence-based solutions to enhance patient safety. Within the SAFE-T Lab, Dr. Abraham and her team collaborate with national and international experts and thought leaders on initiatives to promote patient-centered care and safety outcomes.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking Indian food for friends, and playing games with her family. She is also deeply committed to community service, now in her fifth year as a Core Volunteer and serving on the Board of Directors for Little Angels Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity in the St. Louis area.
6:00 AM: After hitting the snooze button one too many times since 5:00 AM, I finally get out of bed.
6:05 AM: My day officially begins with a handful of allergy meds—because surviving in St. Louis requires it. Then, I unload the dishwasher and start to brew Indian coffee and tea for my husband, Thomas (also a faculty in the department), and myself.
6:30 AM: With a warm cup in hand, I mentally map out the day ahead, check messages, respond to emails, and draft priorities to discuss with my lab members.
7:00 AM: Time to greet and feed our pets—Romeo, our loving 6-year-old Cavapoo, and Othello, our super-energetic 1-year-old guinea pig. I like to chat with them about my to-do list, hoping they somehow understand the hard work that keeps their lives comfy!
7:10 AM: I prepare a light breakfast for Thomas and Becca before getting ready for the day.
7:30 AM: With Thomas and Becca off to work and school, I settle in with my second cup of tea and dive into focused work—writing, reading, and brainstorming ideas for grants and papers.
9:00 AM: Zoom calls begin! I meet with my lab members individually to discuss their plans, deadlines, and any updates.
10:00 AM: I say goodbye to Romeo and Othello, and head to the office for more meetings—and yes, some much-needed printing. (Miss you already, Romeo and Othello!)
10:30 AM: Since it is admissions season, I spend the rest of my morning and early afternoon in my Barnard office in back-to-back interviews with potential students applying to our I2DB Biomedical Informatics and Data Science programs.
12:20 PM: I dash to Becker to attend the I2DB Research Seminar—though I inevitably run into colleagues and get sidetracked discussing an upcoming grant submission and the latest NIH updates.
12:50 PM: Since I was late to the seminar, I opt for a caffeine break in the lunchroom while catching up on emails—and sneaking a cinnamon crunch bagel for an energy boost.
1:15 PM: A highlight of the day—an unexpected visit from WUPD’s therapy dogs, Bear and Brookie! After some much-needed puppy time (and a few pictures), I go back to my afternoon meetings with my informatics colleagues.
3:00 PM: With a two-hour window from canceled meetings, I decide to surprise my daughter by picking her up early from school. She’s a big K-pop fan, so we have a blast singing along to her favorite BTS songs on the car ride home—my Korean may be questionable, but the enthusiasm and energy is real!
4:00 PM: Back home, I make sure Othello is fed again before taking Romeo on a short walk. With another cup of tea in hand, I knock out some low-effort administrative tasks.
5:00 PM: I wrap up any remaining work—editing papers, reviews, and editorial duties—before switching gears to dinner prep.
6:30 PM: With Thomas home early, we unwind with The Daily Show, catching up on whatever chaos is unfolding in the world.
7:00 PM: My niece, Sarah, joins us for dinner, sharing stories about her first post-undergrad job at WashU. Afterward, Becca, Sarah, and I treat ourselves to ice cream and pastries at Dohmo, a fancy dessert spot close to our home.
9:00 PM: Back home, we try reinforcing some basic commands with Romeo—though he clearly believes he’s the one training us. Sit? Maybe. Stay? Only if there’s a treat involved. Come? Only if he feels like it. Honestly, I think he’s running the show at this point! As part of a game, he has to choose who to go to—and, not to brag, but he picks ME every time (even Becca’s treat bribes don’t work!).
9:30 PM: I feed Othello and spend some quality time with him in the basement—his excited “wheek wheek” when he sees me is always a delight!
10:00 PM: I then dedicate some time to working on advancement and promotional materials for Little Angels Foundation, a nonprofit I’m deeply involved with that combats food insecurity in St. Louis and Illinois.
10:45 PM: Though I should probably sleep, I indulge in a late-night snack and curl up with a movie on my phone. I almost always go for a tried-and-true Indian movie or a Hallmark classic—because who needs suspense when you can predict the ending within the first five minutes? It’s my foolproof way to unwind.
12 PM: By midnight, I’ve had my dose of a happy ending and drift off, ready to tackle another day of meetings, projects, home-cooked masterpieces, and, of course, quality time with family and friends!
Why should women in our department attend the WoW Retreat in April?
I have made it a priority to attend the WOW event since its inception in 2023, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. These events provide a safe and interactive space for women to engage in meaningful discussions about career development, mentoring, coaching, and work-life integration.
One of the most valuable aspects for me has been sharing and hearing stories from colleagues across research, clinical, leadership, and administrative roles. It’s inspiring to see how success takes many different forms, and I’ve come to appreciate that everyone’s path is unique—and that’s completely okay! The highlight of these events, for me, has been the fun and rejuvenating activities like sound baths, yoga, and aromatherapy. These activities have also helped me build lasting friendships with my female colleagues.
If you haven’t attended yet, I highly recommend signing up—you never know what meaningful connections and insights you might gain!