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Digital Health Week 2022 | 15th-17th February, 2022
In 2022, we will again be bringing you a joint event between the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne!
Digital Health Week (15-17 February 2022) is an opportunity for anyone interested in digital health to participate in a program of virtual events and share research and ideas. It is designed to be both informative, provocative, and a showcase of the innovative work being undertaken in digital health across the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and beyond. Digital Health Week 2022 will bring together researchers, health services, industry, and the community to build person-centred eHealth collaborations.
“Reality check: how do we make technology work in real life?”
This year’s theme will have a focus on discussing how we can make technology truly work as a support tool for people in life and across health care systems. We want to explore the mismatch between real life and the potential of technology to support health and wellbeing. Our vision is to have diverse speakers who challenge us and spark discussions that might help us all to harness technology in different ways for more inclusive healthcare and support.
Latest News
22/03/2022 – That’s a wrap on DHW22!
Thank you to all who were involved in Digital Health Week 2022! This was the second time the University of Sydney joined forces with The University of Melbourne to host Digital Health Week and once again there was a fantastic energy in the zoom rooms and thought-provoking conversations about how we can make digital health technology work in real life. Summaries of the event have been posted to our website and we’ve already started thinking about #DigitalHealthWeek23!
Congratulations again to all of the prize winners!
Emerging Digital Health Researchers – established to celebrate the talent of HDR Students in digital health. The presenters were judged on quality of the research and how engaging the presentation was.
Stream 1: Consumer-centred technologies and engagement
Melissa Miao, University of Technology Sydney | @ABICommLab| The complex reality of implementing online digital health interventions: Insights from people with living experience of brain injury, healthcare and digital health implementation
Stream 2: Online and telehealth interventions
Kah Woon Teoh, Monash University Malaysia | @CarmenTeoh| Development of a Digital Health Supported Diabetes Prevention Program (PRIME) based in Malaysian Community Pharmacies
Stream 3: Health Information Seeking and eHealth Education
Carol Pizzuti, The University of Sydney | @Carol_Pizzuti| The role of regulators and professional regulations in fostering the use of electronic health data to strengthen Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for medical practitioners
Stream 4: Optimisation and implementation of technological systems
Madaline Kinlay, The University of Sydney | @maddykinlay| Errors resulting from the use of electronic systems – stakeholder perceptions on how to reduce themDHIN Researcher Showcase Prize: Awarded to the best presentation overall, across all 4 streams of Abstract Session 1 as judged by members of Digital Health Week 2022 working group and academics in the field. Dr Jessica Watterson, Monash University Malaysia | @jwatterson3| Using social media to build social cohesion for health promotion among low-resourced mothers
ePosters – People’s Choice: The general public voted for who won this prize and the winner received 258 votes.Danielle Jawad, The University of Sydney | @daniellejawadd| Interactivity, Content, and Quality of Websites addressing Healthy Infant Behaviours: A systematic Assessment
ePosters – Influencer: Based on Tweets/re-tweets/and likes using the conference hashtag #DigitalHealthWeek21. This prize went to the ePoster with the most Twitter engagement.Erin Madden, The University of Sydney | @EB_Madden| “What do I say? How do I say it?” Twitter as a knowledge dissemination tool for Australian mental health research
ePoster – Judges award: The best ePoster as judged by members of Digital Health Week 2022 working group. All ePosters were rated on the quality of their content, rigour, and presentation.Esrat Jahan, Macquarie University | @essyjahan| The role of smartphone applications in preventing Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
Special Commendation Award: In 2021, the Digital Health Week team introduced an award to acknowledge the achievements and participation of an attendee during the event. In 2022, the award goes to:Dr Gloria Gomez, The University of Sydney – Save Sight Institute
Not-a-Bot Social Media Award: In 2022, the Digital Health Week team introduced a new award to acknowledge the most unique tweets and Twitter engagement of an attendee during the event.Dr Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell, The University of Sydney | @lisakouladjian
17/02/2022: Summary of Day 3 #DigitalHealthWeek22
This morning we started the day with the Emerging Researcher Showcase. With topics ranging from the adolescent perspective, social media as a healthcare tool, digital solutions in the mental health sphere and a warning about errors resulting from the use of electronic systems, we heard from an incredibly talented group of digital health researchers. A very big thank you to all of our presenters in the Emerging Researcher Showcase – you have all done the field proud!
This afternoon we were the recipients of a beautiful virtual Welcome to Wurundjeri country and smoking ceremony. Then we reflected on why some digital solutions have been so difficult to implement in the clinical space. The panel discussion “Where is my flying skateboard??!! Closing the digital health implementation gap” explored the reality and challenges of digital health implementation and offered ideas for the path forward.
“…do we know how to RIDE a flying skateboard?”
Professor Chris Bain, Monash University
We need to make the evidence for digital health solutions clear and accessible, advocate for change, talk and interact with our consumers in order to create better outcomes for people, and to work together to make tech work in reality.
Some suggested reading from the panellists: Deploying digital health tools within large, complex health systems: key considerations for adoption and implementation
This panel session was recorded and will be made available for attendees to watch following the event.
This was the 2nd time the University of Sydney joined forces with The University of Melbourne to host Digital Health Week. The last 3 days have seen vibrant exchanges of ideas, conversations, debates, tech glitches and wins, new connections and potential collaborations. We are really looking forward to hearing our collective future ideas to progress digital solutions in health so that we can work towards making technology work better in real life.
Full list of Digital Health Week 2022 Prizes
Congratulations to all of the Digital Health Week 2022 prize winners! We will be contacting you in the next couple of days to confirm receipt of your prizes.
16/02/2022: Summary of Day 2 #DigitalHealthWeek22
This morning we were welcomed by the DHW22 Social Media Team who are so integral to building the community and spreading the word about our latest research. Thank you Twitterati team for making DHW22 extra stimulating! (You can “meet” this year’s Twitterati here)
This image summarises last nights’ #DigitalHealthWeek22 Twitter chat, which discussed areas such as health literacy, diverse communities, the digital health divide and paying community members for contributions and co-design.
Today’s panel session “Unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare”, hosted by A/Prof Adam Dunn, University of Sydney, made some interesting comparisons of AI is used in healthcare and other industries.
The panel was made up of thought leaders from both academia and industry: Prof Wendy Chapman (University of Melbourne), Prof Enrico Coiera (Macquarie University), Dr Denis Bauer (CSIRO), Ben Hachey (Harrison.ai), Michelle Gallaher (Opyl.ai) and Richard Jefferson (Cambria and Lens). You can read more about today’s speakers here (and scroll down).
The discussion made it clear that the answer to this was heterogeneous across the health space and perhaps the key question is really around the quality and context of the data. It was suggested that start-ups could lead the way in bridging the implementation gap for AI. It was questioned as to whether we were delivering machine learning products that support people that need the most help and it was noted that the potential change that could occur for vulnerable and developing communities could be transformational. The idea of focused research organisations was also raised as an avenue for consideration.
This panel session was recorded and will be made available for attendees to watch following the event.
“Are we taking a bagful of hammers and looking for nails, or are we looking for impactful problems, developing the data and contextual knowledge to attack them, and then using AI.”
Richard Jefferson, CEO of Cambia and Lens.org
“We know we are not ready because everyone still thinks it is magic.”
Michelle Gallaher, CEO at Opyl.ai
The Research Showcase concurrent sessions on Consumer-centred technologies, mHealth, use of technological systems and Online, Virtual, and Telehealth interventions gave us a broad range of perspectives and showed just how much amazing research is occurring across the country and internationally.
That day was finished off affably with the Networking afternoon tea sessions, which gave people a chance to have informal discussions about a range of Digital Health Topics and meet their fellow researchers.
15/02/2022: Digital Health Week 2022 has started!
We were generously welcomed to Gadigal lands of Eora Nation by Uncle Allan Murray of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, who also acknowledged the Indigenous peoples of the lands from which DHW22 delegates joined us virtually from across the country and the world!
“Show respect, show leadership, show commitment
and also be good friends to one another”
Uncle Allan Murray, MLALC
We were honoured to have Chancellor of The University of Sydney, Belinda Hutchinson AC, and Vice Chancellor, Prof Mark Scott AO open. Digital Health Week 2022 with warm messages of support for the event, emphasising the growth in thie field of research and its vital importance for future health care. You can view their messages by clicking below:
A/Prof Adam Dunn, DHIN Lead, and Dr Liss Brunner, Conference Chair from the University of Sydney added their welcomes to the event.
The successes possible through connection to others was a common theme through all the morning’s welcomes. The collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney to create this event exemplifies the spirit of bringing together networks of researchers and community members to ideate and implement the best tech-based advances for our communities.
“Challenges facing modern healthcare systems will require a multidisciplinary approach
and cross-disciplinary domains like digital health are going to be vital”
Professor Mark Scott AO
A major highlight of the day was a panel of high-profile community leaders discussing the topic “The truth about technology and our health” – they had some amazing insights into what really works for people and some fantastic ideas for our research community for the future.
We would encourage everyone to take their knowledge and messages they shared with us on board, particularly around the ideas of equity, creating safe spaces online, and building sustainable and inclusive co-creation of digital solutions moving forward – where people with living experience and community are valued partners in the conceptualisation and implementation of digital health research initiatives. Information shared by panellists to support this include:
You can also read more about our panel members Luke Briscoe, Carly Findlay OAM, Fiona Given, Caleb Rixon, and panel chair Professor Simon Darcy HERE (and scroll down). This panel session was recorded and will be made available for attendees to watch following the event.
14/02/2022: Digital Health Week 2022 starts tomorrow!
If you are having any issues with registration or accessing zoom links for #DigitalHealthWeek2022 sessions, please email events.rsvp@sydney.edu.au.
Digital Health Week 2022 Welcome Videos
The Conference Committee is incredibly grateful for the support of Belinda Hutchinson AC, Chancellor of the University of Sydney, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mark Scott AO, Professor Robyn Ward AM, Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, and Professor Jane Gunn, Dean Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne.
Professor Ward and Professor Gunn have each recorded a special welcome message to all attending Digital Health Week 2022.
31/01/2022: The Digital Health Week 2022 ePoster gallery is now live!
ePosters are an important part of the event program and we are very excited to announce the launch of the ePoster gallery; showcasing the work of digital health researchers across a wide range of topics. This year we received submissions from universities across Australia, local health districts, eHealth NSW, and from researchers around the globe.
All ePoster presenters displayed in this gallery are in the running for three prizes:
- People’s Choice | Cast your vote to have a say about who gets this prize. Votes can be cast for three ePosters every day, up until 9am Thursday 17th February 2022.
- Influencer | Tweet/re-tweet/like your favourite ePoster using the conference hashtag #DigitalHealthWeek22. This prize will go to the ePoster with the most Twitter engagement.
- Judges Choice | The Digital Health Week working group will review all ePosters and award this prize based on visual engagement and quality of the research.
24/01/2022: The full #DigitalHealthWeek22 Program is out!
We are very excited to announce the COMPLETE Digital Health Week 2022 program. Zoom links for #DigitalHealthWeek22 sessions will be sent to all presenters and registered attendees on the 11th of February 2022.
17/12/2021: The #DigitalHealthWeek22 Program is out!
We are very excited to announce the Digital Health Week 2022 program, which aims to explore the mismatch between real life and the potential of technology to support health and wellbeing.
19/11/2021: We are now accepting registrations for Digital Health Week 2022!
The program features three panel discussions that will each tackle the conference theme question of “Reality check: how do we make technology work in real life?” with different digital health stakeholders. The first panel has invited members of the community to share their unique experiences and valuable insights with us, the second panel will address the challenges of applying artificial intelligence into clinical practice, and the third panel will grapple with the systems and policies that make digital health come to life. Digital Health Week will also feature several abstract, networking, and ePoster sessions showcasing an exciting array of Digital Health projects.
13/11/2021: Abstract submissions are now closed and are being reviewed. Thank you to all who submitted. The Working Group aims to be in contact with all submitting authors by Friday 26th November to advise of an outcome.
ABSTRACTS HAVE NOW CLOSED. Abstracts are invited from researchers in the field of digital health, including (but not limited to) the following research topics (presented in alphabetical order):
- Codesign and consumer-centred technologies
- Data science
- eHealth education
- Equity, equality, and the digital divide
- Ethics and law in digital health
- Games and gamification for health
- Learning health systems
- Mobile applications and wearable technologies
- Optimisation and implementation of technological systems
- Social media and social networking sites
- Technology and the health workforce
- Telehealth and telepractice
- Virtual and augmented reality
Presenters can nominate their preference for an ePoster or presentation format, with both formats providing presenters a speaking opportunity to share their work.
The conference is keen to showcase Honours and Higher Degree Research Students to highlight their research – so if you are a research student, please indicate this on the submission form.
Please don’t hesitate to contact anna.janssen@sydney.edu.au if you have any questions.
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We hope that we will see you at this exciting digital health event in February 2022!