Faces of Digital Health

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. What you’ll learn 2:00 Intro & why gaming matters in 2025 4:05 Success story #1 – Fortnite immunity map 8:40 Success story #2 – Minecraft mental-health build 11:55 How creator economies (Fortnite Creative, Roblox, Minecraft) open doors for health innovators 16:10 Budgeting & ROI: making the business case 20:30 4-step framework for your first health-game project 26:45 Overcoming stigma & regulatory hurdles 31:00 Future outlook: VR, digital therapeutics & beyond Key takeaways Gaming isn’t just entertainment—it’s a powerful storytelling engine for complex medical topics. Creator platforms already host millions of engaged users: meet them where they play. Partner with influencers and studios to translate clinical insights into immersive worlds. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/sENyLJmk9wc?si=nCDKGtPqdwtqtv6Q

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 application beyond elite athletes to everyday individuals and patients in critical conditions. Kreindler talks about integrating human performance science with traditional medicine, improving health outcomes, and assessing current medical practices such as prehabilitation in oncology. He also touches on the impact of COVID-19 on public health perception, the rise in self-directed healthcare, and the importance of mental health and human connection for overall well-being. Show notes: 01:03 Human Performance Medicine: Beyond Athletes 02:31 Integrating Human Performance with Traditional Medicine 06:00 Prehabilitation and Cancer Treatment 11:59 Metabolic Flexibility and Health Optimization 19:41 Founder's Health Program: A New Approach 23:02 Impact of COVID-19 on Health Perception 28:59 Introduction to the Program 29:33 Performance Medicine and Testing 31:37 Mindset Shift During COVID 32:54 Longevity and Healthspan Aspirations 36:34 Challenges and Motivations for Fitness 44:56 Impact of Technology on Health 51:30 Human Connection and Health 55:43 Conclusion and Podcast Information Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOc5reFMk8k&t=7s www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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, enabling users to access summarized, evidence-based answers with cited sources in seconds. This discussion covers: Why measuring resilience with data is so elusive How Evidence Hunt reduces search fatigue for clinicians and researchers The philosophical challenge of translating emotions into data What makes a good prompt when searching for medical knowledge Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8tC0B4NvpM www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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 conditions to access and analyse data from the Health Data Hub, differences between digital twins, synthetic data and real world data and more. 📊 Covering 95% of the population, the dataset includes: Claims data from 95 statutory health insurers Linked electronic health records (from 2025) 💡 Who can apply? Anyone under GDPR jurisdiction with a research project aligned with public interest (medical research, health system improvement, epidemiology). Industry is welcome too—as long as the purpose complies. https://fodh.substack.com/ www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Youtube: https://youtu.be/CltdPRvz_9w #healthdata #digitalhealth #EHDS #AI #research #Germany #syntheticdata #healthinnovation #datasharing #privacy

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 data, the importance of distinguishing different data types, and the potential applications and challenges in digital health. We also explore healthcare systems' digitalization, patient data privacy, the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and future public health perspectives. Learn about patient-generated data, clinical trials, and the significant role of digital health advancements in shaping the future of healthcare. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbSCXUhIDZ8 Show notes: 01:08 Diving into Different Categories of Health Data 01:35 Discussion on Secondary Use of Data in Europe 02:16 Call for Listener Feedback 03:07 Starting the Interview with Felia Kini 03:36 Importance of Distinguishing Data Types 04:38 Challenges in Using Different Data Sources 06:38 Real-World vs. Clinical Trial Data 07:19 Patient Preferences and Medication Adherence 09:31 Most Suitable Data for Secondary Purposes 10:32 Patient Generated Health Data 11:53 Discussions Among Health Ministries 13:09 Trustworthiness and Integration of Digital Tools 17:45 Patient Reported Outcomes in EHRs 19:35 European Health Data Space (EHDS) 29:55 Patient Control Over Data 33:47 Barriers to EHDS Success 37:13 Public Health Perspectives and Global Changes 40:14 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 42:20 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

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 data, the importance of distinguishing different data types, and the potential applications and challenges in digital health. We also explore healthcare systems' digitalization, patient data privacy, the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and future public health perspectives. Learn about patient-generated data, clinical trials, and the significant role of digital health advancements in shaping the future of healthcare. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbSCXUhIDZ8 Show notes: 01:08 Diving into Different Categories of Health Data 01:35 Discussion on Secondary Use of Data in Europe 02:16 Call for Listener Feedback 03:07 Starting the Interview with Felia Kini 03:36 Importance of Distinguishing Data Types 04:38 Challenges in Using Different Data Sources 06:38 Real-World vs. Clinical Trial Data 07:19 Patient Preferences and Medication Adherence 09:31 Most Suitable Data for Secondary Purposes 10:32 Patient Generated Health Data 11:53 Discussions Among Health Ministries 13:09 Trustworthiness and Integration of Digital Tools 17:45 Patient Reported Outcomes in EHRs 19:35 European Health Data Space (EHDS) 29:55 Patient Control Over Data 33:47 Barriers to EHDS Success 37:13 Public Health Perspectives and Global Changes 40:14 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 42:20 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

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 to healthcare IT and the challenges and solutions in integrating clinical expertise with IT systems. The host and Amanda explore changing workforce expectations, the role of technology in alleviating clinical burdens, and the importance of digital health literacy. The conversation also covers clinical data modeling, international collaborations, and the future vision of healthcare IT development.00:00 Introduction to Faces of Digital Health02:00 Interview with Dr. Amanda Herand02:27 Transition from Oncology to Clinical Data Specialization04:36 Challenges and Observations in Healthcare IT11:35 The Role of Digital Health Literacy14:39 Clinical Data Modeling at University Hospital Basel27:41 Future of Healthcare Data and Precision Medicine32:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughtswww.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/Youtube:

🩺 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 uncertainty about how to handle the answers.At One Clinic, a new approach flips this dynamic. ✅ Patients complete a 60–100 question digital pre-consultation. ✅ Responses feed into validated clinical scores (like STOP-BANG for sleep apnea). ✅ Doctors receive structured, AI-supported insights before the visit begins. ✅ Every consultation becomes a "Personal Opportunity for Prevention"—even if the visit was for something as routine as a UTI.This model doesn’t replace doctors with tech. It supports them, enabling faster, smarter decisions that reflect the patient’s full picture.💡 The secret? Technology as a non-judgmental intermediary. Patients open up. Doctors stay focused. Prevention becomes practical.Tune in to the full discussion recorded at the Digital Health Excellence Forum in Berlin on Youtube:▶️ https://lnkd.in/dpchqkfP 📽️ www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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 reflect on the key findings through additional discussions with: Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, Founder, AIMed. Chief Intelligence & Innovation Office, Children's Hospital of Orange County  Daniel Kraft, MD,  Founder & Chair, NextMed Health. Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder, Beyond Clinical Walls. Urgent Care Medical Director, Saint Mary's Health Network Steven Brown, AI developer, Coder, founder, investor, filmmaker Jennifer Garrison, PhD, Professor, Buck Institute. Co-Founder & Director, ProductiveHealth.org Eric Topol, MD,  Founder and Director, Scripps Research Translational Institute What's covered: 𝐀𝐈 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭▶️ Case Study – Stephen Brown▶️ Custom AI Tool Development: Brown built his own AI-based application using various LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini), emphasizing data cleaning, model cross-evaluation, and reliability testing.Anthony Chang: Claimed it will soon be unethical not to use AI in areas like radiology, where AI improves diagnostic accuracy.𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞:▶️ Lack of AI education among clinicians.▶️ Absence of AI strategies in hospitals—often even lacking data governance.▶️ Misaligned financial incentives across stakeholders.▶️ Bias and Representation𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐎𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧▶️ Ovaries Beyond Reproduction: ovaries regulate broader systemic health via signaling pathways (like “Wi-Fi”), impacting bone, skin, and possibly all organs▶️ Gaps in Research𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞Eric Topol’s View:▶️ Real progress in longevity stems from data-driven insights (organ clocks, plasma proteomics) and predictive risk modeling—not supplements or unproven interventions.▶️ AI enables individualized, timed risk prediction for major age-related diseases (cancer, heart disease, neurodegeneration).🛑 🛑 Warned against overreliance on consumer-grade longevity services offering generalized, possibly irrelevant tests.RESOURCESIf you haven't yet, read the newsletter "NextMed Health Day 1: An Update on AI, AI agents and Agentic AI in Healthcare" https://lnkd.in/dzHQsiMCSee recaps from Gary Monk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garywmonk/ Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTZGXjAFMWk&t=33s www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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 England. A few years ago 200+ commissioning groups were restructured into 42 integrated care systems. In this discussion Liam Cahill, Founder of Together Digital, Digital Advisor to Organisations and Healthtech Advisor talks about the impact of the latest restructuring and expected impact.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB3XXtxvfag&t=19swww.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/