“What motivated me back then and still motivates me to this day is Better’s constant commitment to make a difference in healthcare,” Aleš Černe, Senior Software Development Engineer at Better, told us about finding motivation in the company he has been with for more than 20 years.
What has kept Aleš with Better for such a long time? “We could say I have watched Better evolve in size and product stack,” he said, and added that he has been involved in many different projects. “As a developer, I have always appreciated diversity, and throughout these projects, I have learned a lot,” he told us. Besides being a developer, Aleš is also a passionate baker and collector of Air Jordan sneakers. And a big believer in openEHR. “The most important decision that Better made was to embrace openEHR as the basis for all our products. That was a very brave decision, and as we now can see, it was the right one,” he said. Read the interview below and get to know Aleš.
You have been with Better for more than 20 years, which is quite a milestone. What has kept you with the company all this time, and what still motivates you about your work?
We could say I have watched Better evolve in size and product stack. One of the main things that attracted me to Better all these years ago was free coffee. Just kidding. The most important thing is that everybody’s voice is heard, regardless of their position in the company. What motivated me back then and still motivates me to this day is Better’s constant commitment to make a difference in healthcare. I have had very few interactions with the healthcare system in my life. But many of my friends and relatives are not so fortunate, and it’s very heartwarming to see that we helped improve their journeys with our projects for the national healthcare system.
You started your Better journey with Archetype Designer, then worked with CRPP (Central Registry of Patient Data), and now you are a part of the Studio team and helping with the design system. How has this path shaped you as a developer?
Archetype Designer was a product created out of necessity. Back then, there weren’t any openEHR modelling tools that met our standards. I like to think that Archetype Designer helped to jumpstart the openEHR revolution.
On the project side, there were many, but two of the latest, as you mentioned, are CRPP and Better Design System. Even before I officially joined the team, Studio had already played a significant role in CRPP. This project was my first hands-on experience with Studio, as most of the content was developed there. The latest product was our in-house design system – Better Design System. I wish I could have done more, but other projects took up most of my time. As a developer, I have always appreciated diversity, and throughout these projects, I have learned a lot.
You have extensive experience in UX, front-end development, and design. What challenges have you faced when designing user experiences for complex healthcare tools like Studio?
Designing tools is always a challenge. On one side, we want our tools to give as much freedom as possible, yet we don’t want to end up with a messy and overcomplicated tool. We are constantly on the fine edge between simplicity and functionality.
You work on tools that support clinicians and developers. What is the most important thing you have to consider when developing new tools?
We need to remember that quite a significant number of our users are clinicians. The main difference is that we view our products from a technical perspective, whereas clinicians seek a solution to a problem in their professional domain. We must try our best to help them achieve that.
Having seen Better evolve over two decades, is there one point in the company’s path that left a big impression on you?
In my opinion, the most important decision that Better made was to embrace openEHR as the basis for all our products. Keep in mind, back then, openEHR was a novel technology way ahead of its time. That was a very brave decision, and as we now can see, it was the right one.
Being very curious about new technologies, what is the one thing you explored recently, and think will impact how we build healthcare software?
The low-hanging fruit is AI. We are currently working on multiple projects that are focused on adding AI-enhanced features to our tools. Although new technologies are very tempting and useful for tooling, we must exercise caution when applying the latest technologies to our healthcare projects.
When you think about your future plans, what do you still want to build, learn, or achieve, either at Better or outside of work?
My current personal plan is to get back in shape. I used to go to the gym almost every day. The last couple of years, I was not as consistent as I once was, and it shows. It might also have something to do with the next question. 🙂
Outside of Better, you are a passionate baker, and your colleagues often enjoy your sweet treats. What is your favourite recipe, and what has been the best dessert you have made?
I like baking as it is a very technical hobby that hopefully produces tasty results. I assume most coworkers at Better agree, since I have never had to throw anything away. I really can’t decide which of my desserts is the best, but judging from the response the most popular are my New York-style cookies. For myself, I get the most challenged when trying to create something sugar-free that still tastes like it has sugar in it.
What else do you like to do in your free time, and how do you spend your afternoons?
I am a developer, so I spend most of my afternoons the same way I spend my mornings, in front of my computer. I also like to go to the gym and jog before work or walk before bed. I like to go to sleep early because I’m more of a morning person.
You are also an Air Jordan sneaker collector. How many pairs do you have, and how many collector’s items? Where does your interest in Jordans come from?
Collecting sneakers wasn’t my thing. I just liked the style, and I bought whichever colourway I liked. Since then, I noticed that this model has a very passionate following, and some of the colourways are now worth a small fortune. Now I mainly buy them because of their potential to become a collectable classic. But from time to time, I also buy some that I like or are heavily discounted. I don’t know the exact number, but I would say about 50 too many.
What does Better mean to you?
Back when I joined Better, we were like family. Despite all the growth Better has seen since then, this remains unchanged. From the product stack, I can see a consistent effort to bring positive change to how people perceive and interact with healthcare.
