Digital and Virtual Health Collaborative launch showcase a success

INSIGHT’s Digital and Virtual Health Collaborative Showcase marked a significant milestone, heralding a new era of healthcare innovation and collaboration. 

With great excitement, the Showcase was officially launched, inviting distinguished guests from partnering universities and faculties. 

21st Century Heart Failure Care

In Session 1, which focused on "21st Century Heart Failure Care," the event commenced with the presence of deans from the Faculty of Health (FOH) and the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT). Opening with an acknowledgment of country, the showcase highlighted the fruitful cross-faculty collaboration that has unfolded within the Digital and Virtual Health Collaborative.

INSIGHT Director, Prof. Susan Morton, extended a warm welcome, emphasising INSIGHT's vision as a pan-university institute dedicated to tackling ongoing health challenges through innovation. Co-Convenor Professor Sally Inglis led the initial segment of the session, extending a warm welcome to esteemed guest, Professor John Cleland. 

Professor Cleland explored the intersection of telehealth and the four pillars of heart failure pharmacotherapy management. Delving deeper into heart failure care, IMPACCT Director Prof. Meera Agar provided a profound perspective on palliative care within a digital context. Distinguished economist, Professor Jane Hall, then offered insights into palliative care from an economic standpoint.

The session continued with UTS Adjunct Professor Peter McDonald discussing frailty in heart failure, providing valuable insights into this critical aspect of patient care. PHD candidate Ninna Matthews concluded the first half of the program with a presentation on bio-fabrication, where she explored the innovative use of 3D printing in the treatment of heart failure. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A session, fostering interactive discussions among the esteemed guests and participants.

Big Data and Optimising Health Care Outcomes

Session 2 shifted the focus to "Big Data and Optimising Healthcare Outcomes," commencing with a warm welcome from Professor Joanne Tipper, Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Research Performance (Health Engineering). Associate Professor Ian Opperman, Chief Data Scientist at the NSW Department of Customer Service, led discussions on the current state and future possibilities of data and AI in healthcare.

Professor John Cleland returned to share insights from big data in heart failure, emphasising its role in shaping the future of healthcare. He discussed the challenges associated with AI research, highlighting the reluctance to publish negative results and the need for result replication in different datasets for generalisability. UTS Adjunct Professor Robyn Clark then explored the power of geographical data in addressing rural and remote heart health, shedding light on the challenges faced by local GPs and volunteers in these areas.

A/Prof Berne Gibbons, UTS Adjunct Professor and Head of Business Innovation and Partnerships at InfoMedix, wrapped up the session by delving into the future of digital health. She emphasised the need to unlock data from paper, addressing challenges related to identity, standards, information sharing, and innovation. The session concluded with an insightful Q&A session, providing an opportunity for the audience to engage with the esteemed presenters. 

Overall, the Digital and Virtual Health Collaborative Showcase proved to be a rich forum for interdisciplinary discussions, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants, speakers, and guests.