Becoming Digital in Health Sciences Research Registration

It's been a long time coming, and it may have taken a pandemic, but digital disruption in health has arrived. What does this mean for research in the health sciences?

Digital Health is where technology meets people. From AI to wearables, mobile devices and apps, new technologies offer opportunities to transform models of care, support access, and tailor decision-making and treatment.

Meanwhile, the potential of electronic health records and other datasets to inform research and care is largely untapped. Further, an important key to digital health solutions that stick, is Patient-Public Involvement in research and co-design.

Are you thinking about a health challenge in your research that might benefit from a digital approach, but aren’t sure what to do next?

Or are you already deep into digital health and looking for collaborators?

If you’re an academic researcher or clinician scientist at the Melbourne School of Health Sciences or, from our partner networks, this event is for you – whether you’re new to, or advanced in digital health research.

What the day will look like - you can drop into the sessions you wish to attend at your leisure. All sessions will run off the one Zoom link, to offer flexibility with your schedule.

Morning Session 9.30am-11.30am (online):

Welcome/overview of digital health in research

Dr Mark Merolli (Senior Lecturer & Research Fellow)

Prof Linda Denehy (Head of School, Melbourne School of Health Sciences)

Prof Wendy Chapman (Director, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health MDHS)

5x5 Lightning Talks

Researchers from our five health sciences departments will share their experiences with digital health sciences research (e.g. motivations, challenges, funding targets, etc)

• Optometry & Vision Sciences (Dr Marianne Coleman)
• Audiology & Speech Pathology (A/Prof Karyn Galvin)
• Physiotherapy (Rachel Nelligan)
• Nursing (Dr Suzanne Kapp)
• Social Work (Prof Lynette Joubert)

Panel - Digital Health and the Learning Health System

Our expert panel of researchers, clinicians, and industry experts will discuss the role of digital in health research from supporting decision-making through to implementing interventions and improving health system performance

• Kath Feely (Chief Allied Health Information Office, Parkville Precinct)
• Prof Andrew Turpin (Convener PetaCampus initiative and MDAP lead)
• Dr Douglas Pires (Computing & Information Systems; Centre for Digital Transformation of Health; Data Science and Artificial intelligence)
• Prof Marie Gerdtz (Head of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences)
• A/Prof Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis (GP, Dept of General Practice)
• Adam McLeod (CEO, Outcome Health)

Facilitator: Dr Mark Merolli (Senior Lecturer & Research Fellow; MSHS)

Afternoon: Digital Professional Development (Workshop & Mentoring)

12.30pm-2.30pm (online)

Idea to Concept Workshop (12.30-2pm)

Led by members of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, this "Digital Health Innovation Idea Lab" workshop will put several new digital health research ideas through their paces. This is a chance to workshop your idea with experts in digital health innovation from the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health. Participants will pitch their ideas to an expert panel, who will then give feedback. For those of you at an earlier stage of research, you are also encouraged and free to join (even if you don’t have an idea formed yet), as the ideas presented and lessons learnt may spur you on to progress your own research.

If you would like your research idea considered for the Idea Lab session of the colloquium, please complete the attached expression of interest (EOI) form describing your research idea. Up to 4 ideas will be selected. After our workshopping session, the researcher with the concept that shows the most promise (scientific merit and feasibility) will be awarded mentoring support by the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health to further develop their concept. Please read the attached EOI for further information

To be an active part of this novel event, please complete the attached EOI form describing your idea and return to Dr Mark Merolli by no later than 18 June, 2021. Please include your name in the file name you are submitting

At the workshop, selected EOIs will pitch their idea to a panel comprising:

* Prof Wendy Chapman, Director, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health

* Dr Daniel Capurro, Deputy Director, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health and Lecturer, School of Computing and Information Systems

* Dr Douglas Pires, Data Science Lead, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, School of Computing and Information Systems

* Dr Mark Merolli, Senior Lecturer & Research Fellow, School of Health Sciences, and Centre for Digital Transformation of Health

Virtual 'Coffee' Research Career Track Drop-In (2-2.30pm)

The afternoon session will also conclude with an informal virtual drop-in 'mentor/mentee' coffee style chat. This short session is targeted at early/mid career researchers, post docs, and post-graduate students but all are welcome, no matter your level of experience or aspirations. Come along and ask senior researchers about carving a career path in digital health research.

• Prof Kathleen Gray (Education & Workforce Lead; Centre for Digital Transformation of Health)
• Prof Alicia Spittle (Associate Dean, Research; MDHS)
• Dr Robab Abdolkhani (ECR, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health)

Facilitator: Luke Davies (PhD Candidate, Centre for Health Exercise, and Sports Medicine)

TBC (17:00-19:00) Birds of a Feather networking event (face to face only): we welcome you to keep the conversation going, strike up some connections for future collaboration, and join like-minded colleagues for light refreshments and snacks at our evening networking event.

What else?

This colloquium will also set the stage for a greater health sciences presence at next year's national Digital Health Week event, jointly run by the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health and The University of Sydney.

Digital Health is a key World Health Organisation area of strategic importance, and is a key theme in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences research strategy. Learn more and consider presenting.

Don’t miss out on this major event in the 2021 calendar! Register to receive further details, timetable, and speakers in the coming weeks.

Watch this space for program details and speakers.