

Faces of Digital Health
Tjasa Zajc
Faces of Digital Health is a podcast about digital health, exploring how different healthcare systems adopt technologies in healthcare. Its aim is to satisfy curiosity about different cultures, identify barriers to success in different countries and finding answers and advice for accelerating the success of digital health entrepreneurs.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 30, 2025 • 48min
Would you put an implant in your brain? BCI with Paradromics CMO
 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 building as a high-bandwidth BCI platform. 
Throughout, Stephen separates science fact from sci-fi, stressing near-term potential to restore communication and movement for people living with paralysis, while noting earlier-stage areas like mental health and pain.
What we cover:
- Invasive vs. non-invasive BCIs, and why electrode proximity to neurons matters for performance
- Decoding motor intent and speech: training, language considerations, and LLM-enabled synthesis
- Safety, surgery, and durability (why 10-year implant lifespans are a meaningful target)
- MRI/CT compatibility trade-offs (and parallels to pacemakers/DBS)
- Cybersecurity realities (what BCIs can not do today)
- Business models, regulation, and reimbursement paths for medical-grade BCIs
- Paradromics’ differentiation: a high-bandwidth platform designed to scale across use cases
- Future indications: pain, sensory restoration; earlier stage: mental health biomarkers
- The human impact: restoring connection for people who can’t move or speak
Chapters:
01:37 How BCIs work; signals, decoding, invasive vs. non-invasive
07:13 Surgery basics, risks, and why proximity boosts performance
09:36 Decoding speech & language considerations
13:31 What’s most advanced today: motor + speech
14:58 Mental health: biomarkers and why it’s early
17:48 Longevity, MRI/CT limits, realistic replacement intervals
21:16 Patient perception: fear, performance, and value vs. alternatives
25:04 Paradromics’ platform & high-bandwidth approach
29:22 Platform use cases by brain area (motor, auditory, etc.)
31:18 Cybersecurity: risks today vs. sci-fi
32:35 Business models, regulation, and access
36:42 Trials landscape; Paradromics’ timeline
37:53 Biggest concerns: hype vs. reality
39:50 Three things everyone should know about BCIs
42:10 Potential in pain management
44:41 Role of AI/ML in decoding and assistive apps
46:36 Final thoughts
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ 

Oct 20, 2025 • 24min
Beyond UAE: Digital Health in the Middle East (Mazin Gadir)
 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 is the new norm. He also questions the myth of leapfrogging, pointing out that fragmentation and lack of research remain barriers. This candid conversation explores regulation, interoperability, and the role of academia in sustaining innovation.
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
00:00 – Introduction: blockchain hype and digital health evolution
01:00 – From EMRs to health information exchanges in the Middle East
03:00 – The impact of COVID-19 on digital transformation
04:30 – Rise of patient empowerment and consumerization of healthcare
05:30 – The missing role of academia and research in the region
07:00 – Comparing Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s different innovation models
09:00 – Dubai as a playground for testing, Abu Dhabi for research depth
10:30 – Rivalry across GCC states as a driver of innovation
12:00 – Exporting Gulf digital health models to Africa and beyond
14:00 – Challenges of scaling across Middle Eastern countries
16:00 – Interoperability: current maturity and pilgrim use cases
18:00 – Opportunities and limits of leapfrogging
20:00 – The role of academia and sustainability of innovation
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
https://fodh.substack.com/ 

Oct 17, 2025 • 16min
Reenita Das on AI, Empathy, and UAE Healthcare
 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 UAE healthcare system—its sophistication, inequities for migrant workers, and opportunities in mental health and digital innovation. Drawing from her experience in 10+ healthcare systems worldwide, Reenita compares global approaches and emphasizes food and lifestyle as drivers of health outcomes.
00:00 – Introduction and reflections on WHX Tech conference
01:00 – Why the human side of healthcare is more important than ever
02:30 – Risks of AI reducing clinician-patient time
03:30 – What AI can and cannot do in healthcare
05:00 – UAE healthcare system: sophistication and inequities
06:30 – Migrant workers and challenges of access to care
07:00 – Comparing healthcare systems across the US, Japan, and India
08:30 – Food and lifestyle as drivers of health outcomes
09:30 – Digital health opportunities in the UAE (mental health, diagnostics, aggregation)
10:30 – Misconceptions about women, culture, and technology in the UAE
11:30 – Advice for startups entering the region
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
https://fodh.substack.com/ 

Oct 16, 2025 • 19min
Digital Dentistry + UAE: Most Digitally Connected Place on Earth (Sam Shah)
 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 government-backed sandboxes, integration engines, and lessons other countries can learn from the Emirates—while also pointing to persistent challenges in standards, interoperability, and prevention.
Show notes: 
00:00 – Introduction and Sam’s journey from dentistry to digital health
01:00 – Innovations in dentistry: apps, smart toothbrushes, imaging AI
02:00 – Why dentistry lags behind in digital adoption
03:00 – Oral health and its impact on overall health and wellbeing
04:00 – The social determinants of oral health
05:00 – Career across multiple domains: public health, startups, law, economics
06:00 – Why global solutions can’t simply be “lifted and shifted”
07:30 – What makes the UAE stand out: digital connectivity and government support
08:30 – Key government initiatives: Malaffi and Dubai Sandbox
10:00 – Cooperation between federal and emirate levels
11:00 – Lessons for other countries: leadership that listens
12:00 – Areas for improvement: standards, interoperability, prevention
13:00 – Longevity, wellness, and the need for value-based care
 

Oct 4, 2025 • 18min
Why Free Apps Are Never Free: Cybersecurity Lessons with Leila Taghizade
 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 free lunch” in cybersecurity. Leila also highlights the dangers of phishing, the vulnerability of medical devices, and how AI both helps defenders and lowers the cost of attacks.
Show Notes 
00:00 – Introduction: why cybersecurity basics matter in 2025
00:30 – Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, limiting app permissions
02:00 – Giving apps only the access they really need
03:00 – Cybersecurity in healthcare: medical devices as weak links
04:30 – Default passwords and firmware updates as major risks
05:30 – Phishing: why reporting is critical for protection
07:00 – Everyday cyber hygiene: logging out, password managers
08:30 – AI’s impact on cybersecurity: lowering cost of attacks, improving defense
10:00 – The risks of free apps and third-party tools
11:00 – Data leaks and how AI tools may unintentionally share information
12:30 – AI as a double-edged sword: prevention vs. risk
14:00 – Final advice: caution doesn’t mean fear, but informed use
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/  

Sep 20, 2025 • 42min
From Taboo to Treatment: Digital Interventions for Women’s Sexual Health
 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 among physicians and more. In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we dive into a topic often overlooked in healthcare: women’s sexual health and sexual distress. Clinical psychologist and sex therapist from Charite, Berlin Selina Marie Kronthaler discusses the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, why sexual distress is still underdiagnosed, and the impact on relationships and quality of life. We explore how digital health tools and evidence-based interventions are being developed to support women in navigating sexual pain, arousal disorders, and emotional challenges in a private, accessible way. The conversation highlights the gaps in current healthcare training, the role of gynecologists, and why femtech innovation and funding are critical to addressing an underserved area that affects 1 in 4 women.
E-Mail: selina.kronthaler@charite.de
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selina.kronthaler/ 
(German Therapy Website: https://www.selinakronthaler.de/) 
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ 

Sep 11, 2025 • 25min
AI replacing radiologists: Was the prediction right, just the timeline wrong? John Nosta, Shafi Ahmed
 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” of medicine
Accountability and liability when AI makes mistakes in healthcare
The deeper question: is AI truly intelligent, or does it think in a way fundamentally different from humans?
💡 Shafi and John don’t always agree—but together they explore the future of medicine, the limits of technology, and the ethical, clinical, and philosophical challenges that will define healthcare in the AI era.
02:02 Introduction and Debate Overview
02:17 AI in Radiology: Predictions vs. Reality
04:00 Challenges in AI Implementation
06:32 Generative AI in Clinical Practice
08:50 Ethical and Regulatory Concerns
10:19 Philosophical Perspectives on AI
16:39 Accountability in AI-Driven Healthcare
19:57 AI's Cognitive Differences and Impact on Healthcare
21:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/  

Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
How India is Building the World’s Largest Digital Health Ecosystem for 1.5 billion people?
 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 health identifier for every citizen. Combined with registries for facilities and professionals, and a consent-based health information exchange, India has laid the groundwork for a truly interoperable system.
So far, over 800 million ABHA IDs have been created. Yet, only around 20% of facilities and professionals are onboarded, with adoption challenges in the private sector.
Ritesh Aeron is a distinguished digital health expert and program management specialist with a strong track record of driving large-scale health systems transformation through digital innovation. He currently serves as a Director at the Equitable Global Healthcare Foundation (EGHF), a role he has held since April 2025. In this discussion he explains:
 
What is the current state of healthcare digitalization in India?
How did India’s digital health journey start and evolve?
What is the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and how does it work?
What is the ABHA ID and why is it important?
How does interoperability and consent-based data exchange function?
How many people and facilities are onboarded so far?
What challenges remain in adoption and regulation?
How is data being used for population health and surveillance?
What role does AI and innovation play in care delivery?
How open is the Indian market for global providers?
How is AI affecting both healthcare delivery and the software workforce?
 

Aug 22, 2025 • 38min
From Burnout to Balance: How EHR Culture and AI Are Reshaping Clinician Experience (Coray Tate,KLAS)
 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 technologies like ambient speech and AI.
Key takeaways:
Culture matters more than technology choice. The Arch Collaborative found that execution and organizational support around EHRs matter more than the specific vendor.
Burnout isn’t primarily caused by EHRs. Instead, clinicians report that feeling unheard and disconnected from leadership drives dissatisfaction.
The Middle East stands out. Collaboration-focused cultures there show significantly lower burnout rates than the U.S. or Europe.
Ambient speech is delivering results. Across ~25 health systems, burnout rates dropped by 12% after adopting ambient documentation tools.
AI will redefine expectations. We are at the cusp of moving from “taskmaster” EHRs to supportive assistants that reduce cognitive load and help clinicians reclaim personal time.
The future of healthcare technology isn’t just about smarter systems — it’s about listening, collaborating, and ensuring that innovations help clinicians live better lives inside and outside the hospital.
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZAhDhrNZu0 

Aug 7, 2025 • 49min
Scaling Health in India: Digital Systems, AI, and Human-Centric Care (Sabine Kapasi)
 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 population, digital payment infrastructure, and widespread smartphone adoption are unique assets in transforming care delivery. However, gaps in infrastructure, rural clinician availability, and systemic fragmentation remain hurdles. Dr. Sabine emphasizes the importance of human-centered care, especially in the context of AI adoption.
Topics covered:
Current Public Health Challenges in India
Rise in infectious diseases during monsoon
Double burden of NCDs and communicable diseases
Vaccination Success
Polio eradication and near-universal childhood vaccination
Demographics & Governance
Young population
Strong centralized governance aiding digital health
Digital Infrastructure
UPI adoption
Smartphone saturation in rural and urban areas
Healthcare Delivery Landscape
High access to medications but low access to diagnostics
Urban-rural doctor imbalance
Role of frontline workers
Role of Technology
AI in CDSS
Mobile diagnostic kits
Digital ID (ABHA) and EHR integration
Telemedicine and eSanjeevani platform
Barriers to Digitization
Over 10,000 HIS vendors
Lack of mandated digital infrastructure
Provider reluctance due to tax implications and informal payments
Innovation in Diagnostics
Liquid biopsy alternatives for early cancer detection
Scalable, low-cost rapid tests suited for Indian climate
The Human Element
Importance of human touch in healthcare
Health as a community-driven concept
Future Opportunities
GenAI in clinical training and diagnostics
Insurance as a digital health accelerator
Localization of clinical trials and precision medicine
 


