When it comes to developing top-rated healthcare mobile apps, few individuals have achieved the same level of success as Benyam Alemu Sood. As the lead developer on the MyUCSDHealth team at UC San Diego Health, Benyam's dedication to his craft has paid off in a big way – transforming the app into one of the most downloaded and top-rated healthcare applications on the Apple App Store.
Benyam joined the mobile team at UC San Diego Health in 2020, inheriting an app with major challenges. The crash rate stood at 42%, user interface issues plagued older or disabled patients, and the App Store rating languished at just 2.4 stars. Through his leadership and teamwork, Benyam's team was able to overcome these obstacles, achieving remarkable results.
Success Metrics: Measuring Up
The success of the MyUCSDHealth app is a testament to the power of teamwork and dedication. Under Benyam's guidance, the team tracked impressive results:
• The app became the third-most downloaded among all United States hospitals.
• Patient satisfaction scores doubled, from 2.4 stars to an impressive 4.8 stars.
• Crash rate reduced by an astonishing 94%.
• Active sessions per user increased by a whopping 480%.
• Mobile application revenue rose from under $1 million to a remarkable $12-17 million per year.
Lessons Learned: Building Real-Time Monitoring Tools
Benyam's approach to app development was built on empathy and research. Rather than diving straight into code, he listened to users and built real-time monitoring tools that traced crash points down to the specific button clicked and error triggered. This allowed his team to catch and fix issues before they escalated.
The team also relied on user feedback and app store reviews to understand how non-technical users assessed the value of an application. By prioritizing accessibility, Benyam's team designed a login flow with larger buttons, Face ID support, and Apple VoiceOver integration – ensuring that even older or disabled patients could easily use the app.
Combining Data-Driven Insights with Customer Feedback
One key strategy for improving the app was building an automated dashboard that categorized user reviews by common issues. As the volume of feedback grew from just a few dozen reviews to over 10,000, Benyam developed a system using data science to group complaints into themes. This allowed his team to quickly identify patterns and prioritize areas critical to patient satisfaction.
Gratitude and Mentorship
Benyam attributes his success to superb management and mentorship, extending special thanks to Jeffrey Engel, Dave Dewey, and the Web Services team for their support. He also emphasized his gratitude to healthcare providers, stating that without them, none of the impact would be possible.
About Benyam
Benyam Alemu Sood is a Mobile Applications Developer working in the Web Services team at UC San Diego Health. With a BS in Biology from UC San Diego and an MS in Computer Science, he has become a leading force in healthcare app development. As the recipient of the University of California Mojgan Amini award for Operational Excellence and winner of the UC Health Hackathon, Benyam's expertise is in high demand.
From Self-Taught to Industry Leader
Benyam did not have a traditional computer science background. Instead, he credits mentorship, self-driven learning, and cross-functional teamwork to his success. Starting six years ago, in 2019, he built up his skills by reading, experimenting, and staying deeply engaged in both mobile development and healthcare.
In this article, we've explored Benyam's journey from transforming a low-performing mobile app into one of the most downloaded and top-rated healthcare applications on the Apple App Store. With a focus on data-driven insights, customer feedback, and real-time monitoring tools, Benyam has become an industry leader in fitness app development – demonstrating that with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.