Updates concerning Sciana Fellows in July 2025
Adrian Jonas leads design and delivery of technical exchange event in Ghana
In May, Adrian Jonas (Cohort 5) led the design and delivery of a technical exchange event in Ghana for the health and care workforce from across the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Statistical Service, and Pharm Access.
This event focused on shared learning and practical sessions across digital, data and analytics to enable Ghana to make steps towards a Universal Health Coverage health system. There were a total of 20 separate technical exchange and interactive sessions, including facilitated group work and panel feedback across the five-day event.
The exchange underpinned the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), also known as The MahamaCares, a landmark initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to individuals living with chronic diseases across the country.
Feedback from the workshops was overwhelmingly positive. Nearly all respondents expressed that the sessions enhanced their knowledge and skills relevant to their professional roles. The curriculum was praised for addressing core challenges in data and analytics specific to Ghana’s health insurance framework and enabling the GMTF.
Claudia Witt co-authors two studies concerning randomised controlled trials on health apps
Claudia Witt (Cohort 5) has co-authored two publications relating to randomised controlled trials on health apps.
The first publication reflects on a randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of the prescribable digital health app used in the study with a control app in reducing the number of migraine days among adults diagnosed with migraine.
The second publication reports on a study evaluating the effectiveness of the CanRelax 2 app in reducing distress in people with cancer.
Bola Owolabi recognised in King's Birthday Honours List
Congratulations to Bola Owolabi (Cohort 7), who has been named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the King's Birthday Honours List.
Bola has been recognised for her services in reducing health inequalities. This month, she started her new role as chief inspector at the Care Quality Commission.
Carlo Fabian joins management committee for COST Action's Digital Mental Health for Young People
Carlo Fabian (Cohort 7) has joined the management committee for COST Action's Digital Mental Health for Young People (YouthDMH).
COST Action is a European interdisciplinary network focused on the critical and timely challenge of supporting young people's mental health through digital means. Carlo will work on "Contextual and Early Assessment and Intervention".
Bettina Wapf authors chapter for new book on Smart Health
Bettina Wapf (Cohort 7) has co-authored a chapter for a new book titled "Smart Health: Ansätze zur Digitalisierung und Demokratisierung des Schweizer Gesundheitsökosystems" ("Smart Health: Approaches to digitisation and democratisation of the Swiss healthcare ecosystem").
This book addresses the legal, ethical, and social considerations of implementing smart health technologies with the aim of driving digital transformation in Switzerland.
Bettina has co-written a chapter with Sebastiano Caprara, Flora Vajda, and Fabio Carrillo. In their chapter, they present Balgrist University Hospital's platform-based approach as an effective strategy for enabling better data management, interoperability, and patient-centred care.
By connecting clinical, research, and administrative systems, they argue that healthcare institutions can use AI and machine learning to improve decision-making and operational efficiency. This model fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, supports real-time data exchange, and ensures adaptability to future innovations, all the while maintaining data security.
Judith Safford speaks at 19th International Forum for Back and Neck Pain Research in Primary Care
Judith Safford (Cohort 3) delivered a keynote talk at this year's International Forum for Back and Neck Pain Research in Primary Care, which took place in Davos.
Her talk, "Mind the Gap!", addressed the differences in perception between healthcare professionals and patients, especially regarding knowledge and care priorities. Anita Amorim, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, shared a reflection about Judith's talk.
Judith praised the Forum's efforts to encourage more attendees from low- and middle-income countries, awarding grants to cover costs. Sakshi Aryal, an undergraduate from Pokhara University in Nepal, received a travel grant and was one of two people who stood out to Judith at this year's Forum, which she reflects on further here.
The people behind healthcare innovation: Interview with Sylvana Quader Sinha, Founder & Chair of the Board of Praava Health
In the latest instalment of his "The people behind healthcare innovation" series, Tobias Silberzahn (Cohort 3) speaks with Sylvana Quader Sinha, founder and chair of the board of Praava Health.
Praava Health is a patient-centred, tech-integrated healthcare system in Bangladesh.
Die Apotheke der Zukunft - zwischen Digitalisierung und Gesundheitsversorgung (The pharmacy of the future - between digitalisation and healthcare)
Tobias Gantner (Cohort 1) has authored an article exploring the challenges and opportunities that digital transformation holds for pharmacies.
The article, published by Pharmakon, provides an overview of the status quo as well as a look ahead. While sharing the article on LinkedIn, Tobias said, "The healthcare system is changing rapidly – and with it the role of pharmacies. Anyone who still believes that the future will only be about dispensing medication is missing the biggest opportunity for repositioning in decades.
"We need new answers – and we have made them visible."
Shera Chok recognised at EMMS International Global Women in Healthcare Awards
Congratulations to Shera Chok (Cohort 2), who was a runner-up at this year's EMMS International Global Women in Healthcare Awards for the Health Tech category. She was acknowledged in "recognition of her pioneering work in promoting diversity in digital health."
Shera said, "It was wonderful to meet inspiring women from Hong Kong, Scotland, and Armenia at the award ceremony in Edinburgh and to hear how they have broken boundaries to improve equity, quality, and inclusion."
Rudolf Blankart co-authors study and appears on SRF Trend podcast
Rudolf Blankart (Cohort 5) has much to share in July! On 24 June, a study he co-authored was published in Systems Research and Behavioral Science.
The study examines primary care scenarios for chronic disease management in Switzerland. The research uses systems modelling to analyse how different approaches impact healthcare's "quadruple aim" of population health, costs, patient experience, and provider satisfaction.
Key findings indicate that workforce shortages significantly deteriorate all outcomes, while sustainable improvements require both workforce expansion and resource shifts from hospital to primary care.
A few days later, Rudolf appeared on an SRF Trend podcast discussing "Dangerous holiday souvenirs: antibiotic-resistant germs". He spoke in his capacity as president of the Swiss Round Table on Antibiotics.
This episode explores the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which experts describe as a silent epidemic. Rudolf informs about innovative incentive solutions to combat this public health threat.
(Scroll down to read more about Rudolf’s involvement at this year’s Swiss Governance Forum and SPINE Summer School.)
Richard Stubbs appointed Honorary Professor and appears on HealthTech Hour podcast
Congratulations to Richard Stubbs (Cohort 5), who has been appointed an Honorary Professor at Sheffield Hallam University.
In this role, Richard will share his insights and experience from over a decade of leading health innovation transformation locally, nationally, and internationally, supporting the university as it trains and develops the next generation of health and care staff.
Richard also recently appeared on an episode of the HealthTech Hour podcast to discuss how Health Innovation Networks are helping to tackle the challenges faced in delivering patient care and to support the introduction of new ways of working.
Sciana Fellows to share expertise in panel discussion on healthcare entrepreneurship
Sciana Fellows Manuela Eicher (Cohort 3) and Rudolf Blankart (Cohort 5) will contribute to a panel discussion on healthcare innovation this month.
The panel discussion is taking place as part of this year's SPINE Summer School in Lausanne, scheduled to occur between 18 and 21 August.
Manuela and Rudolf will share insights from their experience with the Symptom Navi program and other healthcare innovations to support international PhD students in nursing in developing an entrepreneurial spirit. Their input is one element of practical perspectives on real-world challenges in healthcare innovation during the four-day hackathon-style program.
Sciana Fellows appear at Swiss Governance Forum 2025: Regulation and Innovation in Healthcare
Several Sciana Fellows were in the audience and on stage at June's Swiss Governance Forum, which brought together 170 experts from politics, academia, and practice at the University of Bern.
This year's Forum focused on "Regulation and Innovation in Healthcare". Participants explored two main themes: how scientific evidence influences policy through knowledge translation, and how healthcare actors drive innovation within regulatory constraints.
Rudolf Blankart (Cohort 5) served as the Forum's organiser and delivered key presentations on how research supports regulation and political decisions. Annamaria Müller (Cohort 2) contributed valuable insights during panel discussions on bridging scientific evidence and political reality.
Thomas Zeltner (Honorary Fellow) also shared his extensive experience as former director of the Federal Office of Public Health, emphasising “competition as the best medicine for increasing innovation”.
