UWTSD to co-host the European Federation of Medical Informatics STC Conference 2022

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) will co-host the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI) Special Topic Conference (STC) Conference 2022 on September 7&8. The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan, MS, will open the two-day event.

EFMI is the leading organisation in medical informatics in Europe and represents 32 countries. A non-profit organisation, it is concerned with the theory and practice of Information Science and Technology within Health and Health Science in a European context.

The EFMI Special Topic Conference 2022 is being hosted by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, as national member society of EFMI, in collaboration with UWTSD and the Wales Institute of Digital Information (WIDI).

Digital health and care are becoming the norm worldwide, but there is a pressing need to expand the skilled professional workforce to deliver technology-enabled care services. The conference theme highlights the vital importance of informatics education for health and care professionals.

The Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan, said: “Technology – and the people who use it – plays an important role in supporting health and social care services.

“The upcoming EFMI conference will focus on developing our digital workforce, helping to attract, develop and retain talent.”

Dr Philip Scott, Chair of the Health and Care Executive at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and Programme Director at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said:  "Digital health is an expanding sector that needs a professional, ethical, and competent workforce to deliver achievable outcomes.

“This conference will provide the opportunity to discuss how to support and increase the number of skilled professionals and share best practices from the UK and Europe. With the Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services opening the conference, the CEO of Digital Health & Care Wales and the President of EFMI attending and a keynote from the CEO of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health - this promises to be a lively and informative event."

Professor Wendy Dearing, Dean of UWTSD’s Institute of Management and Health said: “We are delighted to be supporting such an important conference.

“It’s our aim, through collaboration with partners, to produce a generation of digital transformers, entrepreneurs, and leaders for the healthcare sector in Wales. It has never been more pressing for the healthcare sector to harness innovative technology to help solve real-world problems.” 

The Conference is taking place at Cardiff City football ground and will feature a talk delivered by keynote speaker Dr Louise Schaper, CEO of the Australasian Institute  of Digital Health, entitled: "Building digital health workforce capability nationally and globally".

Dr Louise Schaper is a passionate advocate for the transformation of healthcare, enabled by technology and has dedicated her career to building community and opportunities for the sector to advance.

With over 20 years' experience in digital health, Louise has deep domain knowledge and extensive networks across Australia and internationally in the field.

Conference Topics include:

* Education in health and care informatics

* Professional recognition and certification

* Continuing professional development

* Curriculum development and learning outcomes

* International recommendations and local application

* Informatics skills and competencies

* Interdisciplinary health and care informatics

* Global needs in informatics professionalism

* Distance and blended learning

More details here: https://www.stc2022.org/

Note to Editor

Dr Louise Schaper

As a senior member of Australia's digital health community, Dr Louise Schaper has spent 10+ years leading Australia’s main body for digital health, the Australasian Institute of Digital Health, and is a founding partner of Healthcare Ventures, Australia's digital health venture capital fund.

Louise brings together world-class clinicians, researchers, innovators, and organisations from across the biomedical, health and technology spectrum who are committed to the improvement of health outcomes enabled through innovative uses of technology and information. She is a facilitator, an innovator and a change agent who explores and leverages the convergence of people, systems and technologies in the transformation and future of health and medicine.

Professor Wendy Dearing

With a nursing background, Professor Wendy Dearing holds an MSc in Change & Innovation, an Honorary Professorship from the UWTSD and the professorship in Applied Practice in recognition of her expertise and knowledge in championing professionalism in technology and information.

Prior to her role at UWTSD, Professor Dearing was Head of Workforce and Organisational Development within the NHS Wales Informatics Service, overseeing workforce strategy; workforce planning; recruitment and retention; professional recognition and registration; education and training; career pathways & CPD.

As Co-Director for WIDI, she has created and implemented Health informatics Apprenticeships.

Professor Dearing is Professionalism Lead on the UK wide BCS Health & Care Executive Board and is a board member of Fed-IP. She has a passion for developing "the next generation" of health and care managers.

Dr Philip Scott

BCS Health and Care Chair - Dr Philip Scott, CITP FBCS

Dr Scott worked in the NHS from 1994-2009, and since then in academic health and care informatics. He is Programme Director of the MSc in Digital Skills for the Health and Care Professions at University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD). Dr Scott is also Deputy Editor of BMJ Health & Care Informatics, and national representative to the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and the European Federation of Medical Informatics (EFMI). He serves on the Board of HL7 UK and co-chairs the BCS-FCI working group on computable biomedical knowledge.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk