24 March 2021

Genomics personalising healthcare: How long will it take before genomics is integrated into everyday healthcare? While we might not have a crystal ball, we at the Institute are actively working to make that eventuality a reality.

As you know, last year we launched the Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA) - a single voice for Australian industry partners, contributing to the rapidly developing field of genomics. This dynamic group, led by Chair David Bunker, supported by a committee of industry leaders, is working on a range of projects to quantify the benefits of genomics, address access and equity, workforce and the use of health data.

All of this and more will be discussed in Melbourne when the Institute hosts the first national industry led meeting in genomics. If you want to have a say in helping to build our precision health and personalised medicine future, then I encourage you to join us when industry representatives, consumer organisations, clinicians and other stakeholders gather for the Institute’s annual data event HealthData21. Join us in person in Melbourne to connect with genomics and health data leaders.

Dr Louise Schaper PhD FAIDH FIAHSI CHIA BSc(OT)Hons

CEO, Australasian Institute of Digital Health

Katerina Andronis (PrecisionX) joins the Precision Health Community of Practice leadership committee; Bec Harvey (Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc) has joined the South Australia branch committee; Nursing. Midwifery Community of Practice has appointed Cedar Yin (Catholic Healthcare) and Berni Zimpf (Fresh Hope Care) to its committee.

Nurses and midwives talking about the pandemic! Hear from one of the leaders of the Nursing. Midwifery Community of Practice as Tasneem Islam reflects on the effect of the pandemic on nurses during International year of the Nurse. She says the pandemic has had a profound effect on nurses during the International Year of the Nurse. “Of those who tested positive for COVID-19, 17% were health care workers and of those, 70% were nurses”. 

You can read more and join the online conversation.

Corporate member appoints Jim Birch: Australian healthcare leader Jim Birch AM has been appointed to the Board of Pacific Knowledge Systems (PKS) as a Non-Executive Director. Mr Birch has more than 30 years’ experience in implementing technological change in the healthcare sector and is the previous Chair of the Australian Digital Health Agency.

Other benefits include finding your tribe amongst our Communities of Practice, free access to hundreds of videos on Digital Health TV, subscription to Pulse+IT and more!

Welcome to our new Fellow Dr Amina Tariq!

Executives into fellowship: Health managers and leaders are invited to apply for Fellowship or Associate Fellowship of the Institute through the new executive pathway. Senior executives with depth of knowledge in digital health from their experience across the health system could be eligible for Fellowship and automatic membership of the Institute’s Digital Health Executive Network (DHEN).

DHEN Chair Richard Royle said: “There is a growing global interest from health executives taking the lead on digital in their organisations. Digital health executives and leaders are set to continue to be at the forefront of guiding the health sector through transformation and change.”

Network and connect with your peers. Test your eligibility and find out more here. 

AIDH and InGeNA are proud to present HealthData21 in Melbourne on 27-28 May 2021. Join the first national industry led meeting in genomics on day 1 with a focus on ‘integrating genomics into care’, followed by a second day hearing about the advances and applications of ‘data informing healthcare’. We are calling for speakers to express their interest in presenting at HealthData21.

Call for submissions for NI 2021 is open! NI 2021, the Nursing Informatics International Congress, will be held online from 23 August to 2 September. A new call for submissions is now open until 30 April.

The Digital Health Institute Summit 2021 will be held in-person in Melbourne 18 – 19 October. Application to speak at the Summit will be open from 8 April to 7 June. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact sponsorship@digitalhealth.org.au.

Introducing AIDH membership for Start-ups! The AIDH membership for Start-ups has been created to help start-ups in the health, medical and biotechnology sector broaden their organisation’s connections nationally and internationally. Contact us to find out how AIDH can help connect you with the Australasian digital healthcare community. 

CHIA Alumni: Did you know? Digital Health TV is a fantastic resource to reach your CHIA CPD goals by watching videos featuring national and global digital health leaders on topics such as cybersecurity, genomics, precision health, nursing and midwifery informatics, virtual care and more! AIDH Members get unlimited access to Digital Health TV and can watch the videos anytime, anywhere. Become a member to start watching today!

New ways to earn CHIA CPD points! Join the CHIA Examination Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) and help write examination questions to earn CHIA CPD points. The EDAC comprises professionals who work collaboratively with the CHIA Examination Committee and support with building, maintaining and ensuring the integrity of the CHIA examination bank. Apply to become a member of the EDAC. Contact us to know more.

Study health informatics in SA: The 2021 Health Informatics Short Course at Flinders University has been rescheduled and is being conducted from 12-16 July in Adelaide (at the Victoria Square Campus). There are 20 CHIA points attached to the course which is run by Institute member Mark Brommeyer.

Throwback to this fascinating presentation from #HDA19 on ‘Pilot experience with use of artificial intelligence in ICU’ by Gurkiran Kaur, Senior Data Scientist at United Overseas Bank. To have your health data success stories and challenges heard on a national stage, apply now to be a speaker at HealthData21.

Members can also watch them on demand on Digital Health TV!