Walking past the bookshelves at Navigating Cancer, you will see several framed photos. When I began my work here, I found that many employees have family members who have faced cancer, and we are all encouraged to give these special people a prominent place in our office, which is why we proudly display them – as a reminder of our mission. This is Part II in our series of Why We Do What We Do featuring two more of our dedicated employees.
Nick Cox, Software Engineer
What motivates you about working at Navigating Cancer?
One of the most motivating aspects of the job is reading survivor stories from real users (of the Patient Engagement Portal). It’s inspiring to see how people are sharing information with each other, and generally processing what it looks like to have and beat cancer. Seeing our imagined features come to life in the hands of people gives meaning to my work.
What do you like best about working here?
The engineering team is made up of a lot of really different personalities, but everyone is really talented and cares a lot about the quality of the code they write. I’m one of the less experienced engineers, so I’m constantly learning and improving. There’s a lot of opportunity to work on exciting features with the latest technologies and to collaborate with others in the engineering department.
What is unique about working here in your mind?
As an engineer, it’s hard to find work on products that have some sort of social value. Many of the startups these days that are receiving funding and media attention are solving non-problems. Navigating Cancer is doing work that truly matters, and that’s rare in the technology field these days.
Carin Overturf, Product Manager
What motivates you about working at Navigating Cancer?
I really wanted to work on a product that inspired me and I believed in. I loved my old company but I was working on marketing software which I wasn’t passionate about.
Both of my parents are cancer survivors. My mom had breast cancer and my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. They both had great relationships with their oncologists and received innovative care. I think Navigating Cancer’s mission is fantastic because it focuses on patient engagement to find better treatments and better care, and I love that this company creates software that helps patients engage with their oncologists.
I have a better appreciation of time spent with my parents now. We’ve all learned to ‘Do it now – live in the present.’ Going to Alaska to see the Iditarod was on my mom’s bucket list. She went with her best friend.
What do you like best about working here?
I really like the small team. I was working at a company of 140 people before. I like the fact that there are reminders all over the office of what we’re doing and why we are here. It brings us back to what the main objective is for us here.
What is unique about working here in your mind?
The product is unique and the mission and the goal of being the patient engagement solution for cancer care. A lot of other products seem to be trying to solve the clinic’s objectives. Our product seems to have a larger vision – building something for the patient as a customer which also meets the needs of the clinics.
Why We Do What We Do will feature more Navigating Cancer employees in future blog posts and on our Facebook page.