Faces of Digital Health

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, host Tjasa Zajc sits down with Nasser Arif, a Cybersecurity Manager for two NHS Trusts in Northwest London. The conversation moves beyond the technical "bits and bytes" to explore the human element of security. Nasser explains his daily routine of balancing urgent patient-care fixes with long-term strategy and emphasizes that effective cybersecurity in a hospital setting requires a deep understanding of clinical workflows. The dialogue covers the impact of high-profile attacks like the 2024 Synnovis incident, the importance of "cyber-hygiene" in personal life as a bridge to professional safety, and the evolving regulatory landscape of the NHS. Nasser argues that cybersecurity is moving away from being a sub-department of IT and emerging as a standalone profession critical to patient safety.

1 view Mar 19, 2026 In-person video interviewsThe European Health Data Space (EHDS) isn't just a new regulation—it’s a "Magna Carta" for healthcare innovation. In this interview from the Smart Bridges Event, we sit down with industry expert Dennis Geisthardt, Head of digital.lab, to break down the implementation timeline (2025–2031) and what it means for the pharmaceutical industry, medtech, and patients across Europe. We dive into the "Countdown to 2027," the challenges of intellectual property vs. data sharing, and how opening up access to clinical data could finally unlock breakthroughs for rare diseases and personalized medicine. In this video, you’ll learn: The 3 major milestones of EHDS implementation (2027, 2029, 2031). Why "Primary Use" vs. "Secondary Use" of data matters for your healthcare. The risks and rewards for the private sector and Big Pharma. How EHDS could revolutionize market access (AMNOG) and AI-driven drug discovery. 00:30 – Introduction: The Smart Bridges Event 03:45 – Why EHDS is a 100-year milestone for healthcare 04:30 – The role of the private sector in co-creating the framework 04:10 – What is EHDS? Primary vs. Secondary data use explained 05:00 – The Timeline: The "Countdown" to 2027, 2029, and 2031 06:30 – Who is a "Data Holder"? (Hospitals, Pharma, & MedTech) 07:45 – Industry Challenges: IP Rights, Trade Secrets, and Competition 08:50 – Revolutionizing Market Access (AMNOG) through data 09:40 – A "Magna Carta" for Rare Diseases and AI Research 10:30 – Identifying why therapies work (or fail) using broader datasets 11:20 – Closing: Why EHDS requires a "European Village" to succeed

Are we overhyping AI in healthcare before building the foundations? In this interview from the HIMSS Global Conference, Anne Snowden (Chief Scientific Research Officer, HIMSS) breaks down the latest data on global digital health maturity. We discuss why "Person-Enabled Health" is lagging, how countries like Germany are using data to transform their hospital systems, and why the shift from disease management to proactive prevention is the only way to save our healthcare economy. Topics covered: - The 4 dimensions of digital health transformation. - Why AI requires better data governance and interoperability. - Comparing digital progress in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. - The role of "Agentic AI" in supporting patients at home. Video: https://youtu.be/6e8pzH_VslE?si=y6b6y89IoTgtw5at www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

How is AI actually changing the day-to-day life of a clinician? In this episode, we sit down at the Smart Bridges GmbH Digital Health Excellence Forum in Frankfurt with Dimitri Varsamis PhD, Senior Programme Manager, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Georgi Nalbantov, PhD, Chief AI Officer at Hospital Zdraveto. They covered the impact of AI on the clinical workforce: 🎯 The Administrative "Wraparound": How AI is tackling the PDF-heavy burden of patient record review. 🎯 The Shadow AI Trend: Why doctors are using ChatGPT "under the table" and how hospitals should respond. 🎯 Vibe Coding: Can a doctor build an app without knowing how to code? 🎯 The Intelligence Debate: Is AI de-skilling the medical profession or just evolving it? 🎯 The Data Dilemma: Why 97% of healthcare data is still unused and how AI might finally fix it. Video episode: https://lnkd.in/dzpMuvrU www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: http://fodh.substack.com/

Denmark has been a digital health frontrunner for over two decades. In this episode, recorded live in Barcelona, Morten Elbæk Petersen, CEO of sundhed.dk, shares how Denmark launched its national patient portal in 2002 — long before most European countries began digitizing patient access. Now, as Denmark prepares for a major health reform culminating in the establishment of Digital Health Denmark in 2027, the country is modernizing legacy systems, strengthening cybersecurity, integrating secondary data, and shifting care from hospitals to homes. This conversation explores what long-term digital maturity really means — the benefits, the legacy challenges, and the governance reforms shaping Denmark’s next chapter.

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, Tjaša Zajc speaks with Dale Atkinson, a stage 4 oesophageal cancer patient who was told he had 11.5 months to live—and who is still alive today. Dale shares how he applied his compliance and investigation skills to healthcare: reading thousands of research papers, building a research-grounded AI workflow to sense-check drug interactions and pathways, and learning how to communicate with clinicians to be taken seriously. We discuss patient agency, the doctor–patient relationship, the promise (and risks) of AI for patients, the digital divide in healthcare, and why quality of life must be central to care decisions. Dale also shares how his journey led to new work in patient advocacy, the Beyond the Standard foundation, and the Clear Path Clinic vision for integrative oncology and wellness. Topics include: patient empowerment, AI in patient journeys, evidence-based complementary approaches, healthcare equity, clinician workload, prognosis anxiety, and new patient-led models of care. TIMESTAMPS (CHAPTER-STYLE) * 00:01 Intro: why patient agency matters more as systems strain * 04:12 Dale’s story begins: diagnosis after wife’s lung cancer + mother’s death * 07:22 Stage 4, inoperable, palliative care: the emotional impact * 08:31 Asking for a timeline: why Dale wanted prognosis data * 09:18 How a financial crime investigator becomes a “patient investigator” * 10:55 The deep dive: thousands of papers, books, and expert conversations * 12:09 Where AI enters: building a research-grounded model for sense-checking * 15:00 Standard of care + complementary approach (not “alternative”) * 16:08 Friction with clinical advice; nutrition and chemo trade-offs * 17:48 Choosing treatments based on quality of life and realistic benefit * 20:06 When Dale felt the trajectory could change: from survival to stability * 21:11 Anxiety, recurrence risk, and “no evidence of disease” vs remission * 24:46 Missed symptoms, dismissal, and why patient agency is learned the hard way * 28:32 “Love-hate” to collaborative: a new model for doctor–patient dynamics * 32:16 How to communicate to be heard: bite-sized, stakeholder-specific info * 35:28 Clinicians under pressure: emotional load and “factory line” care reality * 37:58 AI impact in the patient community—and why it’s accelerating * 40:27 Digital divide concerns: will digital skills determine outcomes? * 42:36 AI and emotion: pessimism loops, “horror statistics,” and mental safety * 45:02 A new career: Beyond the Standard, Clear Path Clinic, book, advisory work * 49:25 Closing reflections and thanks Video: https://youtu.be/VeIZkRraxWc www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, host Tjasa Zajc sits down with Bart de Witte for a candid conversation on what agent-based AI really means for healthcare. Recorded during a car ride in Ljubljana, the discussion explores why healthcare needs an operating system for AI agents, the risks of agent autonomy, privacy-by-design through on-device AI, and why monolithic EHRs struggle with the next generation of clinical workflows. Bart also shares his vision for open, decentralized AI ecosystems, certified clinical agents, and swarm intelligence and explains why Europe may be uniquely positioned to lead this shift. A practical, forward-looking episode for anyone working at the intersection of healthcare, AI, and digital infrastructure. Youtube video version: https://youtu.be/F_GRfIbqJJM?si=qheSsKvcg6WXUqTU

As artificial intelligence rapidly enters healthcare, bold claims about replacing doctors dominate headlines. But on the clinical frontline, the reality is far more complex. In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, oncologist Dr. Derrick Khor shares an unfiltered view from inside the NHS, unpacking what AI actually changes — and what it doesn’t. Rather than framing AI as a threat, the conversation explores how it already supports clinicians and patients alike: simplifying complex medical information, helping patients understand their diagnoses, and accelerating access to evidence. Yet the biggest constraint isn’t technology — it’s data. Without reliable access to their own health records, patients and AI tools alike remain limited. The discussion also tackles a growing contradiction in healthcare systems: simultaneous staff shortages and doctor unemployment. Training bottlenecks, hiring freezes, pay erosion, and misaligned workforce planning have created a situation where well-trained clinicians struggle to find roles, even as demand for care continues to rise. Beyond workforce pressures, Dr. Khor explains why most health tech never makes it into daily clinical use. Solutions often fail not because they’re unsafe or ineffective, but because they don’t fit real workflows. If technology adds friction even a single unnecessary click — clinicians won’t adopt it. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/

Ambient documentation is becoming normal in clinics. But the most interesting “voice” capability may not be transcription at all.In the latest episode of Faces of Digital Health, Henry O'Connell (Canary Speech) explains why voice biomarkers stalled for decades: the field analyzed words, not the neurological signal behind speech production.Canary’s approach focuses on the “primary data layer”—how the central nervous system drives respiration, vocal cord vibration, and articulation in real conversational speech. A few details that stood out: ⏱️ ~45 seconds of conversation can be enough for assessment 🎛️ 2,590 voice features analyzed every 10ms (millions of data points) 🎯 Reported accuracy: 98%+ for progressive neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s/Huntington’s/Alzheimer’s), while behavioral health tends to be lower (often in the 80s) 🌍 Validation is repeated per language/culture—no “deploy and hope” model 🧭 Use cases go beyond diagnosis: screening in primary care, clinical trials outcome tracking, and even in-room aggression risk signals to help protect staff One line that captures the idea: it’s about measuring what’s present in the moment—objective signals that complement clinical judgment. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Voice Biomarkers in Digital Health 01:48 Historical Context and Evolution of Voice Analysis 06:52 Innovative Approaches to Voice Data Analysis 08:54 Technical Insights into Voice Analysis 16:07 Accuracy and Efficacy of Voice Biomarkers 28:27 Challenges and Acceptance in Clinical Practice 35:04 Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Testing 36:32 Understanding Genetic Information and Its Implications 37:58 Objective vs. Subjective Assessments in Mental Health 39:59 Proactive Care and Early Detection of Cognitive Decline 42:43 Technology in Wellness and Employee Mental Health 45:18 Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations in Health Tech 49:06 Remote Monitoring and Clinical Trials 01:00:57 Future of Health Technology and Global Expansion Youtube: https://youtu.be/662VfHhdSFQ?si=t80_PblCf1L6dv4V Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

The conversation explores the impact of robots on mental health and their role in healthcare. Anthropologist Tanja Ahlin and Faces of digital health host Tjasa Zajc discuss the fascination with robots, the ambiguous identity of robots, their use in elder care, the challenges of integrating robots, the global perspective on robots, and the misconceptions and realities of robots. The conversation explores the impact of technology on different generations, the role of individual choices in technology use. The speakers also talk about concerns about children and technology, the role of parents, and the impact of technology on human development and creativity. It also emphasizes the importance of optimism and flexibility in adapting to technology. Chapters 02:00 The Fascination with Robots 15:01 Robots in Elder Care 14:15 The Global Perspective on Robots 20:46 Misconceptions and Realities of Robots 29:57 Technology and Generational Sensitization 35:19 The Role of Technology in Creativity 44:28 The Societal Impact of Technology 51:54 The Biological and Psychological Impact of Technology

In this episode, Dipak Kalra, President of the European Institute for Innovation through Health Data, joins Faces of Digital Health to break down the real progress (and real gaps) in European health data, from legacy “hybrid” paper/digital workflows to the underused potential of clinical decision support that depends on structured data. We explore what EHDS changes—especially the promise of a standardized, downloadable patient dataset—and what it could unlock for patient-facing apps, analytics, and more active self-management. We also tackle the hard questions: how to protect citizens from misuse and scams, how opt-out choices might create bias in research and AI, why “beating clinicians with a stick” won’t fix data quality, and why delays aren’t just bureaucratic—they can translate into avoidable harm. 02:00 The State of Healthcare Data in Europe 07:59 Challenges in Data Interoperability 12:31 The Role of Patients in Data Management 16:37 AI and Data Privacy Concerns 22:01 Patient Consent and Data Usage 28:00 Optimism for the Future of Health Data 31:03 Optimistic Futures for EAGDS 33:02 Preparing for EHDs: Readiness and Challenges 35:48 Data Quality and Workforce Challenges 37:58 Delays and Future Discussions on EHDs 39:53 The Urgency of Health Data Readiness 42:38 The Evolving Role of Patients in Healthcare 50:19 Building Trust Among Healthcare Stakeholders 57:58 The Future of Healthcare Data Discussions

Ali Parsa is a serial entrepreneur known for founding companies that challenge traditional models of healthcare delivery. Over two decades, he has built organizations at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and systems redesign—each shaped by an ambition to make care more efficient, accessible, and equitable. In this episode, Tjasa Zajc and Ali Parsa explore how agentic AI is redefining healthcare and what it really takes to build transformative companies in a fast-shifting world.Ali dives into why healthcare remains stuck in an economic imbalance—unlimited demand but constrained clinical supply—and why autonomous, real-time AI agents may finally rebalance the system by taking over 20–30% of routine clinical tasks. He explains how Quadrivia builds agents that can talk to patients, follow multi-step workflows, and operate within strict guardrails to avoid hallucinations and workflow drift.But this episode goes far beyond technology. Ali opens up about entrepreneurship:• why speed is the only real advantage startups have,• how to hire “missionaries, not mercenaries,”• why products must be excellent from day one,• how processes must be simplified and rebuilt for speed,• and why losing control—even briefly—can cost a company everything. 04:00 The Quest for Differentiation in Healthcare 09:21 AI Agents: Revolutionizing Clinical Tasks 12:42 Building a Reliable Knowledge Base 15:17 Ensuring Workflow Integrity in AI 19:46 Global Expansion Strategy of Quadrivia 22:58 Navigating Trust and Cultural Differences 26:04 Competing with Giants in the AI Space 30:22 Agility in Decision Making 31:15 Lessons from Babylon's Legacy 33:08 The Importance of Speed in Entrepreneurship 35:59 Navigating Failure and Success 39:44 Optimizing People, Product, and Processes 41:25 The Role of Luck in Entrepreneurship 47:14 The Birth of Quadrivia 49:04 Insights from Global Healthcare Markets www.facesofdigitalhealth.com http://fodh.substack.com/

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we sit down with Anne Forsyth, Hospital leader in clinical applications from Women's College Hospital in Canada, to explore how AI — especially generative AI — is reshaping daily clinical practice. Over the past two years, enthusiasm for AI has skyrocketed inside hospitals, with clinicians themselves requesting new tools rather than resisting them. We discuss the cautious but deliberate rollout of AI scribes, the still-emerging trust in decision-support AI, and the safety and change-management considerations that mirror (and sometimes exceed) traditional IT implementations. Anne offers an honest look at the financial challenges of sustaining AI tools in publicly funded health systems and shares practical advice for hospitals navigating funding models, clinical buy-in, and responsible innovation. Show notes: 01:50 – Current AI Implementations 03:21 – Safety and Risk Considerations 04:00 – Comparing AI Rollouts to Traditional IT Tools 05:10 – The Business Equation: Funding AI in Public Healthcare 06:20 – Advice for Hospitals on Sustainable AI Adoption 06:40 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Clinical Applications www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/