After 12 inspiring lectures that presented the latest innovations in the area of digital health, this closing keynote speech summarised the future benefits and challenges for digital healthcare and focus on the way forward. What is the concrete role of digital health technologies in the future of medicine and healthcare? Which are the promising advancements that we see in this area and how will the patient journey change?

Speakers:

• Marco Marsella, Head of Unit, DG CONNECT H3 eHealth, well-being, ageing

Marco Marsella is Head of the “eHealth, Well-being, and Ageing” Unit in the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission. From 2016 to June 2018, Marco Marsella was leading the Unit responsible for the Web Accessibility Directive, Safer Internet and Language Technologies. He has worked on policy development, innovation and research implementation in the areas of digital content, technologies for learning, e-inclusion and assistive technologies.

• Bertalan Mesko, PhD, The Medical Futurist, Director of The Medical Futurist Institute, Author of My Health: Upgraded and The Guide to the Future of Medicine 

Dr. Bertalan Mesko, PhD is The Medical Futurist and the Director of The Medical Futurist Institute analyzing how science fiction technologies can become reality in medicine and healthcare. As a geek physician with a PhD in genomics, he is also an Amazon Top 100 author. He is also a Private Professor at Semmelweis Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.

With 500+ presentations including courses at Harvard, Stanford and Yale Universities, Singularity University's Futuremed course at NASA Ames campus and organizations including the 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies, he is one of the top voices globally on healthcare technology.

Dr. Mesko was featured by dozens of top publications, including CNN, the World Health Organization, National Geographic, Forbes, TIME magazine, BBC, and the New York Times. He publishes his analyses regularly on medicalfuturist.com.

Background information

This session is part of the CONNECT University Autumn School on Digital Health open for everyone. Check the full programme.