DataTalks.Club From Medicine to Machine Learning: How Public Learning Turned into a Career - Pastor Soto
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Aug 22, 2025 Pastor Soto, a medical doctor turned machine learning enthusiast, shares his inspiring journey of balancing medicine and data science. He discusses how he leveraged live courses and public sharing to enhance his skills while freelancing on platforms like Upwork. Pastor emphasizes the importance of community engagement in learning and highlights the impact of social media in shaping his professional identity. He also shares his experiences with mentorship and navigating the intersection of healthcare and technology, all while managing a demanding schedule.
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From Med School To Freelance Data Work
- Pastor Soto began freelancing on Upwork while studying, starting with small statistics tasks that paid as little as $5.
- He used early projects to learn Excel, R, then Python by translating code between languages under tight deadlines.
Learn What The Market Needs Fast
- Pastor learned market-driven skills by observing demand then acquiring tools like Excel, R, and Python.
- He often accepted jobs before knowing how to do them, forcing rapid on-the-job learning.
Medical Planning Improves Project Workflow
- Medicine taught Pastor planning, dealing with uncertainty, and preparing next steps for patients.
- He transfers that structured, risk-first thinking to organizing data projects and prioritizing critical failure modes.
