Noah Thomas Making Impact in Computing and Athletics

Monday, March 02, 2020
Noah Thomas

When not catching football passes or winning track sprint races, junior computer science student Noah Thomas has helped develop software to simplify healthcare processes.

Noah Thomas sets his goals high.

After establishing himself as a standout student-athlete, the junior computer science student has his sights set on using his computing skills to make an impact on the health of others.

It’s a bold acclamation that’s front and center on his LinkedIn account.

“What good is learning stuff if you’re not going to use it?” Thomas asks during a recent interview. “I have a passion to make the world a better place.”

As the first software engineering intern at Zotec Partners, he contributed to developing software solutions for a national healthcare client that will simplify health care processes and provide customers with more access and control over their health care experiences. This includes primary care, dental, vision, and mental health services.

Thomas’s work helped establish a connected experience that will enable the national healthcare client's patients to schedule and register for appointments ahead of time, confirm or change insurance and demographic information, see estimated cost for services, receive text and email updates, efficiently check-in and out, and make payments at the time of service – all on their computer or mobile devices.

For providers, the technology will instantly alert them when patients arrive, while seamlessly integrating the registration components with their multiple electronic medical records to document the appointment and the price of services before they leave.

The web-based system is currently being used at two locations, with more coming in the future.

“This is a valuable service that could provide people throughout the country better access to medical coverage. That’s what excites me,” says Thomas.

That’s why he will return to the Carmel, Ind.-based company this summer as the lead intern, supervising five other college students to further develop the national healthcare client's product along with other software solutions and services for health care organizations.

“To me, it’s personal since my father is a diabetic. I know how important health care is to people, families, and organizations. I’m committed to whatever I can do to make the biggest impact to help others be healthy,” Thomas says. “With my computing skills, I may not be building a medical device, but I may be making an impact on other’s lives – through better electronic health records, streamlining insurance coverage processing, and making it easier for more people to get vaccinations and physical exams.”

Previously, the Indianapolis native had internships in his hometown with DeveloperTown, a design and development partner that launches digital products for clients, and Riley Hospital for Children.

These experiences helped affirm his career in computing and have made him a student who is committed to achieving more in his classes and being a better campus leader. He earned dean’s list academic honors for the first time this past fall quarter and is on track to attain that goal once again this winter term.

Thomas already has been a standout collegiate student-athlete, being a school record holder in football and track. He has been a two-time all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference wide receiver. He ranks first and second in Rose-Hulman history for single-season receiving yards (1,065 in 2019; 932 in 2018). With his senior season on the horizon next fall, Thomas could become the school’s career record holder in receiving yards, pass receptions and receiving touchdowns.

In track, Thomas was the Indiana Division III 2019 Outdoor Runner of the Year and HCAC’s 2019 Men’s Track Indoor Athlete of the Year.

His leadership has extended to the campus’ Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity chapters. He also helped organize a cookout to get the campus community to support fall sports teams and helps the sports information office keep statistics for home basketball games.

“After being a member of a state championship football team in high school (Ben Davis), I knew that I could compete athletically here. However, like most Rose-Hulman students, I was unsure if I was ready for the academic challenges,” Thomas admits. “It has been a better experience than I could have imagined. It has changed me. Things are starting to click personally and professionally. All of the dots are connecting. Every week I’m doing things to get me to the next stage in my life. Who knows what the future holds?”