Profiles in Telehealth: John Vinyard - Senior Software Engineer

  • July 14, 2020

John was drawn to Wheel because of its mission and the opportunity to work with an energetic team. Learn more about his journey to software engineering and what he's most excited for in the future of digital health.

What’s your role at Wheel?

I'm a senior software engineer at Wheel, and my job is to ensure that we're building robust, high-quality software that's also flexible enough to evolve with the changing healthcare landscape. I collaborate with a group of stellar engineers to choose technologies and design systems that make this possible.

What’s your background? What did you do before working with Wheel?

My dad was an early PC enthusiast and exposed my older brother and me to some simple BASIC programming on our Commodore 64 when we were quite young. My brother was hooked from the start, and while it took me a bit longer, I eventually found I had a knack for programming too. I started with a focus on front-end development but ultimately realized that I was interested in what powered those engaging user experiences from behind the scenes. My favorite thing to do outside of work is to hang out with my wife Rebekah and goof around with our amazing kids Oliver and Felix. I'm also a songwriter who does some home recording, and I enjoy working in our backyard vegetable garden.

Why did you join the Wheel team?

I joined at the beginning of May 2020.

I was really drawn to Wheel's mission, along with the prospect of getting to be part of a lean but incredibly nimble and energetic group of people.

The engineering team is growing right now, so I get to wear many hats. I spend my days building out features, chatting with my team about architecture and design for new projects, reviewing code, and helping expand our engineering department.

What’s your recent Wheel Moment of Reward?

My Wheel Moment of Freedom happened just last week. It was this wonderful intersection between a great personal working experience and something that has the potential to benefit a large number of clinicians and their patients. I had a really rewarding time pair-programming with a co-worker on a new feature, and in the process, we overhauled some existing code, improving the ability for clinicians to keep moving through a queue of consults unimpeded. I learned a lot about the platform, enjoyed getting to know my co-worker better, and helped to eliminate a point of frustration for clinicians and their patients alike!

What do you think the future of healthcare holds?

I believe that the role of technology is to open channels of communication and to strengthen human relationships. Being in the presence of a caring, seasoned practitioner who is engaged with you and your health concerns can be an incredibly comforting experience. I'm excited about technology's potential to bring that experience within reach, either in your home or on-the-go.

    Thanks, John, for sharing your thoughts and being an essential member of the #WheelCareTeam!

    Interested in joining our team? Check out the latest career opportunities with Wheel.

    Learn more about our team in our staff profiles with Cecily Harris, Associate General Counsel, Chris Norris, Chief Technology Officer, and Gosia Cohen, Corporate Recruiter.