Digital Health Summer Schools to go virtual for 2020

The Digital Health Summer Schools have gone virtual this year, with two days of online learning, networking and collaboration expected to take place. 

The event, which will be held on 23-24 July, will focus on UK and International experiences and lessons on digital responses to Covid-19, as well as exploring what comes next.

Confirmed keynotes already include Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX, Sarah Wilkinson CEO of NHS Digital, and Sonia Patel the new NHSX CIO.

The new-look online event will build on the international ties of previous Summer Schools with an early-morning session on 24 July focused on New Zealand and Australia, delivered in partnership with Health Informatics New Zealand and the Australasian Institute for Digital Health.

The aim of Summer Schools remains to bring together a diverse range of digital health leaders for sharing, learning and relaxed networking.

We will be blending video sessions and video diaries, live Q&A and panel discussions and keynote interviews, as well as after-hours networking in the Virtual Happy Hour.

Most of the Virtual Summer School sessions will be from members of the CCIO, CIO and CNIO Networks, delivered as groups of short video case studies and video diaries, followed by live panel Q&A discussions with presenters.

An open call for presentations is now open. If you’d like to record a video diary to be included in the Virtual Summer School please share some details on the web form for case studies and video diaries.

All members of the CCIO, CIO, CNIO networks, and our international partners, are invited to join us for this new style of Summer Schools, and to share their experiences on using digital and data to respond to Covid-19.

The Virtual Summer Schools will also reflect on how the role of digital leaders and perceptions of digital have changed as a result of the crisis. How can the digital gains of the past few months be secured and become the new normal as the crisis recedes?

James Reed, chair of the CCIO Network, said: “I am delighted that it has been possible to continue the tradition of an annual Summer School in the midst of the current difficulties, and I am really looking forward to hearing how people have responded and what we have learned so far.

“I hope that it will enable greater participation than ever, and I’m really looking forward to it”

Jo Dickson, chair of the CNIO Network, added: “I’m looking forward to hearing other’s experiences from the last couple of months.

“It’s definitely been a time for showcasing nursing in the ‘Year of the Nurse’ and I’m hoping to hear how others have seen their nursing and AHP workforces leading on the digital agenda during the pandemic.”

Ade Bryne, chair of the CIO Network added: “I’m very happy the Summer School is going ahead, almost as planned. I would recommend this event to anyone who wants to see great content delivered in a novel way.”

We hope you will join us for sessions over the two days and continue discussion going with colleagues and friends in the Virtual Happy Hour.

So, if you are a Summer Schools regular or taking part for the first time, please join us for what promises to be a very special event.

The Digital Health Virtual Summer Schools is free for all members of the CCIO, CIO, CNIO networks, and our international partners.

Register your interest here.