Mike Epley ’10
What are you currently doing professionally?
I’m a software developer at Epic here in Madison, where I’ve been working on MyChart for almost 15 years. I love that the work I do reaches millions of people around the world and positively impacts people’s lives. On occasion, patients send us emails or notes telling us how MyChart literally saved their life. Those moments really stick with me and fuel my passion to do even more.
Is there a project or accomplishment that you’re especially proud of that has defined your career?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we went into overdrive at Epic—working nights and weekends to quickly release development to assist health systems with testing, vaccinations, and virtual care. It was hard work, but it’s a period in my career I look back upon fondly, knowing that the impact of my work was greater than ever.
What motivated you to study computer science?
When my AP calculus teacher caught me cheating on an exam using a program I wrote for my TI-83 calculator (whoops), instead of scolding me she encouraged me to try a new programming class being offered the next semester. I tried it, fell in love, and the rest is history; I knew very quickly that CS was going to be my major in college and influence my career.
Why did you come to UW–Madison?
I grew up in Wisconsin (Sauk City, home of the original Culver’s!), so I was very familiar with UW–Madison. It never occurred to me to apply anywhere else . . . so I didn’t; UW-Madison was the only school I ever applied to.
Are there lessons you learned at UW–Madison that have stuck with you ever since?
In the pursuit of a degree in CS, UW–Madison forced me to be more “well rounded” than I had planned. In retrospect, it was one of the best things about my time at UW–Madison. Intro-level courses like Speech, Psychology, and Biology have come in handy during my time at Epic, given my responsibilities as a lead and how my work relates to healthcare.
What are one or two things you did at UW outside of your classes (clubs, study abroad, employment, conferences, internships, etc)? How did these benefit your education, your current career, and/or your life?
I worked at the DoIT Tech Store for all four years of my undergrad, which helped me practice skills like time management, working with customers, and translating technical concepts to non-technical audiences. These are all skills I leverage on a daily basis at Epic.
Do you have any advice for current CS students?
Make sure you find opportunities to program solutions without clear requirements or solutions, because that’s how the real world works! Hackathons or personal projects are great, but you can also do work for non-profits or faculty to get that experience.
What do you like to do for fun?
Like your typical software developer, I enjoy playing video games and learning new technologies in my spare time. I also love cooking—especially for other people. During the warmer months, you’ll find me on the lakes boating or in my backyard growing veggies to incorporate into my cooking.
If you had unlimited resources, what kind of tech startup would you create?
I love animals, and we have a rescue doggo at home, so I’d probably focus my startup on doing something to help people find the perfect dog to adopt. That said, I know there are lots of great organizations out there trying to do exactly that!