Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Background
Patients managing oral anticancer medications at home face complex dosing schedules, food restrictions, and trial protocols—all tracked with paper logs. This led to errors, stress, and unnecessary hospital calls. MSK, a 150-year-old cancer center, needed a digital solution that simplified adherence for patients and supported its broader shift toward digital-first care.
Outcomes
An app that didn’t just streamline cancer care—it reshaped MSK’s vision for digital-first support. One young patient with rare lung cancer shared how isolating treatment felt, but this app made her feel less alone. That moment proved the real impact: technology that heals beyond medicine.
Role
I co-led research, strategy, and product design as part of a three-person design team. I planned and conducted user interviews across three rounds, led the design of the medication tracking experience, and worked closely with clinicians and engineers to ensure clinical feasibility and usability. I also shaped the overall product narrative to align with MSK’s digital strategy.
Discovery & Research
Understanding the Context
To map out the complexities of chemotherapy trials, we conducted 21 expert interviews with pharmacists, nurses, oncologists, and administrators. This allowed us to identify pain points in the current medication management process.
Understanding the Users
We interviewed 25 patients and 12 caregivers across three research phases:
Round 1: Exploring Needs – Understanding how patients track medication today.
Round 2: Prototype Testing – Validating initial design concepts.
Round 3: Refinement – Iterating on key features based on feedback.
Concept Development & Testing
Solving for Medication Planning
Patients needed a way to plan and log medications easily. Our goal was to create an interface that was both intuitive and flexible.
Early Concept: Interactive Time Arc
Allowed users to adjust meal and medication times by dragging doses around a sunup-to-sundown arc.
Problem: Users misinterpreted it as a clock, leading to confusion.
Next Iteration: Flattened Overview
A horizontal bar summarizing daily medication timing.
Problem: Still too complex—users struggled to connect it to their medication list
Final Solution: Calendar-Based Planning
A familiar calendar format with color-coded medications for easy tracking.
A step-by-step home screen to surface the most immediate action.
Final Design: Key Features
“Today” View - Actionable, step-by-step medication reminders.
Calendar - A day-by-day medication schedule.
Medications List - Comprehensive dosage and instruction details.
Pill Logs - Easy tracking of completed doses, required for trial compliance.
Protocol Info - Quick access to trial documentation and clinician contacts.
Results and Impact
The app influenced MSK’s strategic vision for digital-first cancer care. It sparked ongoing discussions on how technology can improve medication adherence and patient outcomes.
In testing, one young patient with a rare lung cancer shared how isolating it felt to manage treatment alone in rural Connecticut. She could barely speak above a whisper but told us this app would make her feel less alone. That moment reinforced why this work matters—giving patients not just tools, but a sense of support.