Faces of Digital Health

In this Faces of Digital Health episode Dr. David Dodick, Chief Science and Medical Officer at the Atria Health Institute and Co-Chair of the Atria Research Institute talks about brain health, dementia prevention, the rapidly evolving science of Alzheimer’s, and how digital tools and AI are transforming care. We also cover why women face higher Alzheimer’s risk, the microvasculature’s role in cogn...

Stephen Ryu, a neurosurgeon and key figure in the Stanford Neuroprosthetics Lab joins Tjaša Zajc on Faces of Digital Health to demystify brain–computer interfaces (BCIs): how they work, why invasive systems outperform non-invasive ones, realistic use cases (motor control and speech), timelines and durability, safety and MRI trade-offs, cybersecurity, business models, and what Paradromics is buildi...

Mazin Gadir, a regional expert in digital health strategy, Director with Alvarez & Marsal Healthcare and Life Sciences in Dubai, reflects on the Middle East’s evolution from early EMR adoption to AI-driven healthcare. From Dubai’s innovation playground to Abu Dhabi’s depth in research, he explains how rivalry between Gulf states fuels progress and why exporting tested models to Africa and beyond i...

In this interview, healthcare futurist Reenita Das, Partner at Frost&Sulivan, Healthcare Changemaker, voted top 100 women in Healthtech and Femtech, reflects on the balance between rapid digital health innovation and the human side of care. Speaking from WHX Tech in Dubai, she highlights why empathy, kindness, and caregiving remain essential despite the rise of AI. She also shares insights on the...

Dr. Sam Shah is a clinician, advisor, and former startup founder. At WHX Tech he sat down with Tjasa Zajc to discuss the future of dentistry, oral health, and broader digital health innovation. He explains why dentistry has lagged behind other specialties, how oral health connects to overall wellbeing, and why the UAE stands out as “the most digitally connected place on the planet.” Sam highlights...

At WHX Tech, cybersecurity expert Dr Leila Taghizade, Group Head of Cyber Risk Management / CISO IberoLatAm at Allianz, breaks down what every individual—and every hospital—should know about protecting themselves in 2025. From the basics of stronger passwords and two-factor authentication to the risks of free apps and third-party tools, she explains in clear terms why “there’s no such thing as fre...

Did you know that  the lifetime prevalence for experiencing a sexual problem is above 70% for women and 55% for men? And when we talk about the problem in conjunction with the distress, it's 25% in women and around 20% in men. So one in four women has the problem right now they are silently suffering because of various issues - challenges discussing issues with their doctor, inadequate awareness a...

In this thought-provoking conversation, surgeon Shafi Ahmed and digital health futurist John Nosta revisit Geoffrey Hinton’s bold 2016 prediction that radiologists would soon be replaced by AI. 🔍 Topics covered: Why AI hasn’t replaced radiologists yet—and what’s holding it back The role of large language models in diagnostics and clinical practice The debate over accuracy, intuition, and the “art...

India’s journey in digital health began just over a decade ago, yet it has quickly grown into one of the most ambitious transformations worldwide. It started in 2012 with maternal and child health programs, expanded to cover non-communicable diseases, and gained momentum with the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2020. At the heart of ABDM is the ABHA ID—a unique 14-digit hea...

Healthcare technology has long promised efficiency, but for many clinicians, the reality has been different: burnout, frustration, and time stolen from patient care. In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, Tjasa Zajc spoke with Coray Tate, VP of Clinical Research at KLAS Research, about what the data actually reveals about burnout, electronic health records (EHRs), and the role of new technolo...

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, host Tjasa Zajc speaks with Dr. Sabine Kapasi, a physician, UN strategist, and founder of a Enira Consulting focused on bridging policy, tech, and clinical practice. The discussion explores the evolving landscape of healthcare in India, touching on digital transformation, rural access challenges, innovative diagnostics, and the role of AI. India’s large...

AI has revolutionized drug discovery by enabling scientists to process vast amounts of historical data, thus accelerating the identification of disease targets and molecule development. AI helps avoid past mistakes and improves the quality of research, making it an indispensable tool in the lab. MSD's approach to AI involves a blend of internal talent and strategic partnerships. By combining compu...

This discussion covers the global impact of digital health technologies in making healthcare more sustainable and improving health outcomes. The conversation centers on a fundamental question: should we prioritize building better healthcare systems or cultivating healthier populations? Bogi Eliasen, a sought after keynote speaker and advisor for health leaders globally, stresses the urgency of ear...

Jessica Morley, postdoctoral researcher at the Yale Digital Ethics Center joins Faces of Digital Health to discuss the overlooked aspects of AI, including biases, ethical issues, and common misconceptions. AI is not new, magical, or truly intelligent; its roots in healthcare trace back 30 years. While AI is often seen as infallible, it is merely statistical prediction and lacks semantic understand...

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare presents both opportunities and challenges that demand careful consideration. The complex interplay between innovation, regulation, and ethical governance are central themes at the heart of global discussions on health AI. This dialogue was brought to the forefront in a recent conversation with Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of Health AI -...

Can video games really save lives? In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we sit down with Anca Petre to explore the booming intersection of gaming, virtual reality (VR) and healthcare. From Fortnite maps that teach immunity to Roblox worlds that demystify diabetes, we showcase real-world success stories and practical steps for health organizations that want to level-up patient engagement. Wh...

Jack Kreindler is physician, explorer, and CEO of WellFounded, who studies human performance, resilience, survivorship, and longevity. He emphasizes the distinction between longevity, which caters to the fear of death, and health span, which focuses on expanding vitality and ensuring good quality of life in the finite years we have. The discussion dives into human performance medicine and its appl...

Philippe Habets is a Dutch physician-scientist and entrepreneur specializing in computational psychiatry and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. He is co-founder of Evidence Hunt, a health-tech company aimed at revolutionizing medical literature discovery using AI. The AI-powered platform that streamlines the process of finding, analyzing, and utilizing medical evidence, enabl...

Starting Summer 2025, researchers and innovators across Europe will be able to apply for access to one of the largest pseudonymized health datasets in the EU—via Germany's Health Data Lab at BfArM. In this discussion, Head of Health Data Lab (BfArM) Dr. Steffen Heß, scientist with has extensive experience in combining scientific expertise with data analysis in the healthcare sector, talks about co...

Fidelia Cascini is Digital Healh expert engaged by the Italian Ministry of Health on European and national initiative. She recently wrote a book on secondary use of data in healthcare, read it here: Secondary Use of Electronic Health Data Public Health Perspectives, Use Cases and Challenges https://link.springer.com/book/10.100... This conversation covers the categorization of electronic health da...

Fidelia Cascini is Digital Healh expert engaged by the Italian Ministry of Health on European and national initiative. She recently wrote a book on secondary use of data in healthcare, read it here: Secondary Use of Electronic Health Data Public Health Perspectives, Use Cases and Challenges https://link.springer.com/book/10.100... This conversation covers the categorization of electronic health da...

In the evolving landscape of work life balance expectations workforce dynamics is reshaping the future of medicine. Dr Amanda Herbrand, clinical data specialist at the University Hospital Basel and former oncologist, shares her insights on this transformation, highlighting the critical role of technology and shifts in physician careers in healthcare. Dr. Herand shares her transition from oncology...

🩺 57% of patients lie to their doctors, says Dr Jérome BOUAZIZ, CEO of One Clinic. Not maliciously—but out of discomfort, stigma, or fear of judgment. Whether it's drug use, alcohol, sleep issues, or mental health, these omissions can have life-altering consequences. On the other side, many doctors avoid asking sensitive questions. Not because they don’t care—but because of time constraints or un...

NextMed Health in a healthtech and biotech conference exploring the most forward thinking ideas and topics in healthcare. Taking place in San Diego, a four day programme covered topics such as latest developments in AI, aging, increasing lifespan and longevity, addressing mental health and exercise through VR, and more. In this special episode of Faces of digital health, Gary Monk and Tjasa Zajc r...

The news of the year for UK healthcare in March 2025 was the announcement of the abolishment of NHS England. Many people welcome the move, expecting the healthcare system in the UK to become more efficient. If we look at the history, NHS is under constant restructuring - in the past, for digitalization efforts, two entities were established - NHS X and NHS Digital, and were later merger into NHS E...