Get to know our Application Programmer

From streamlining resident schedules to revolutionizing loan tracking systems, Rosemary Kasyom has spent her career building tools that make work – and life – easier for others.

She joined the University of Toronto’s central IT team in 2002 as an Application Programmer/Analyst, supporting what was then known as Administrative Management Systems (AMS), now called Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration (EASI). As part of the Client Services Team, she developed custom in-house applications to help departments interact more effectively with enterprise systems, including SAP – used for human resources, research, payroll, finance and budget management.

Now an Application Programmer in the Department of Medicine (DoM), Rosemary oversees a wide range of IT projects from database design to web application development. One of her biggest projects currently is Online Resident-Based Scheduling (ORBS), a platform that manages the complex rotation calendars of internal medicine residents, tracking their training progress, vacation, leaves and electives. Rosemary ensures the system runs smoothly, resolves issues and leads development of new features.

“I love creating innovative functionalities, thinking outside the box to provide smart solutions and automating tedious tasks, turning it from being a drag to just a button click,” she says. “It is very satisfying when I hear users say, ‘this makes my life so much easier,’ or simply, ‘I love this!’”

Rosemary works closely with administrators, the programming team and Central IT to enhance ORBS’ functionality and roll out updates. The platform, which began as a simple web-based solution to replace the manual pin board/excel scheduling that was in use at the time, now allows residents to view rotations, request time off and submit elective proposals – all on one platform. Work is underway to expand the program to emergency medicine and neurology, with new modules like a real-time curriculum tracker and scholarly activity logging in development.

Behind the scenes, she also stays ahead of cybersecurity threats – an ever-present concern for any web-based platform – and works to ease users through transitions, especially those hesitant to embrace automation.

“Thankfully, in most cases, these users learn to embrace the new system and may even come to love it,” she says.

Rosemary’s passion for tech began after completing her Bachelor of Commerce and enrolling in a two-year Software Development program. Her first job was with a private firm specializing in computer training and software solutions for government departments.

“During my time there, I trained about 300 people in programming,” she recalls. “When I immigrated to Canada, I started working at U of T.”

Even during her central IT years, she was the lead programmer on several DoM projects. When the team restructured in 2012 and phased out departmental support, Rosemary transitioned into an in-house role with the DoM to continue supporting her applications.

One initiative she’s particularly proud of predates her time at U of T: modernizing the Housing Board government department in the late 1990s. At the time, loan disbursement and repayment tracking was all done manually. Her custom-built application tracked monthly payments, generated real-time finance reports and provided immediate access to individual account balances – an early glimpse into the kind of work she continues to do today.

“Instead of completing a form and putting in a request, then coming back a week later to get their outstanding, loanees could immediately get the detailed report printed,” she says. “It was a game changer for the department.”

Outside of work, Rosemary enjoys knitting and crocheting. Her current passion project is making crocheted flowerpot holders with an essential oil diffuser inside for freshening up a room or car. She also finds time to volunteer on weekends.

“I am grateful that I love what I do for work, so it doesn’t feel like a job!” she says. “All through my years at U of T, I have been privileged to work with many hard-working individuals and teams, as well as a supportive management team that has made my job even more enjoyable.”