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On October 14, the historical Carolinum saw the Innovation in Healthcare Conference, continuing the long-standing partnership between Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Boston, the University of Massachusetts, and Charles University. Renowned medical experts from these and other institutions offered their insights into innovation and education in medicine, current trends and projects in healthcare innovation.
The featured speakers all acknowledged the fact that the particularly multifaceted field of medicine is as challenging as it is diverse. And in today’s world, numerous new issues arise. An ongoing international dialogue for a better future of healthcare is needed, and this gathering was an important contribution to it.
Colleagues from the United States shared their expertise, but also spoke about the crises including covid, the workforce drought, lack of funding, as well as the much more recent political climate change in the US. A major challenge is the huge politicisation and corporatisation of healthcare, especially in the US – but its global impact is undeniable and very strongly felt all around the globe. And so, a wholly new, unexpected competency being “navigating the political field” arose for medical experts today. Another topic was of course AI, which does offer numerous opportunities, not least in the field of diagnostics and early disease detection, but also poses new and often unforeseen challenges.
To offer a poignant example, Chief Academic Officer at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Regional Executive Dean at UMass Chan Medical School Lahey, Anne C. Mosenthal, spoke about some of today’s challenges in her Developing Physician Leaders: Defining Competencies for a Changing Healthcare Landscape speech. “Who are the leaders to lead us through crises and pave the way? Of course, the current student, but what should we teach them? Knowledge and curiosity, yes, but what values should we impart?” These were the main question she has tackled in her speech. The goal is then to “lead change to improve healthcare to be more caring, just and equitable – and to empower others.”
A host of further contributions followed, focusing on particular problems including diagnostics, innovation and implementation of new technologies, nanosensors for early detection of serious diseases, digital therapeutics as mobile apps and much more – all for the sake of improving patient care and quality, and offering effective treatment.
TEXT: Jan Borek
PHOTO: Veronika Vachule Nehasilová