How Can We Change Healthcare to Prolonge Healthspan? (Bogi Eliasen)
This discussion covers the global impact of digital health technologies in making healthcare more sustainable and improving health outcomes. The conversation centers on a fundamental question: should we prioritize building better healthcare systems or cultivating healthier populations?
Bogi Eliasen, a sought after keynote speaker and advisor for health leaders globally, stresses the urgency of early intervention, particularly in the context of chronic diseases, to ease the growing burden on healthcare systems. He advocates for a shift from reactive to preventative care, emphasizing the role of digital technologies in enabling this transition and improving outcomes at scale.
Key barriers to progress include political and commercial inertia, short-term policy thinking, and the escalating costs of acute care. The interview draws on success stories, such as the Nordic Health 2030 Vision, which aims to redesign healthcare to be more preventative, personalized, and data-driven.
Innovative applications of existing technologies in regions like Latin America and Africa are also highlighted, showcasing how local solutions can deliver significant improvements in access and care delivery. The conversation further explores the need to reimagine workforce structures in healthcare and underscores the importance of embedding dignity at every level of care.
Looking ahead, the focus is on harnessing advanced technologies holistically and strengthening public-private partnerships to accelerate meaningful, equitable change in global health systems.
Topics:
01:13 The Importance of Early Action in Healthcare
02:51 Primary vs. Secondary Prevention
05:05 Challenges in Healthcare Systems
06:36 The Role of Public-Private Partnerships
09:14 Nordic Health 2030 Vision
22:36 Digital Health and Global Impact
26:19 Addressing Cardiovascular Disease in Ghana
27:36 Cancer Screening Initiatives in Peru and South Africa
28:24 Challenges in Scaling Healthcare Across Borders
29:49 Rethinking Health Systems for Better Outcomes
31:37 The Role of Primary Care in Latin America
32:43 The Importance of Health as a Societal Driver
33:22 The Future of Healthcare: From Sick Care to Health Care
37:57 The Concept of Dignity in Healthcare
40:46 Emerging Innovations in Global Health
44:12 The Role of AI and Data in Personalized Healthcare
48:28 Movement Health Foundation's Vision for the Future
Youtube: https://youtu.be/z6eF6z1H8CM
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
https://fodh.substack.com/
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AI in Healthcare: Navigating the Myths, Biases, and Regulation
Jessica Morley, postdoctoral researcher at the Yale Digital Ethics Center joins Faces of Digital Health to discuss the overlooked aspects of AI, including biases, ethical issues, and common misconceptions. AI is not new, magical, or truly intelligent; its roots in healthcare trace back 30 years. While AI is often seen as infallible, it is merely statistical prediction and lacks semantic understanding, which excludes it from genuinely grasping human concepts like pain. Jessica remains skeptically optimistic about AI, noting its potential in scientific advancements and operational efficiency but doubting its transformative impact on diagnostics and patient care. The conversation also highlights the regulatory landscapes in Europe, the UK, and the US, each with varying approaches to AI regulation.
Jessica emphasizes the unavoidable nature of bias in AI, advocating for more thoughtful adoption and regulation to ensure AI benefits everyone without deepening biases or relying excessively on surveillance. The discussion concludes with insights into ongoing research aimed at shifting focus from individual health optimization to maximizing population health.
00:00 Introduction to Digital Health and AI
02:21 Debunking Myths About AI
06:13 The Potential and Limitations of AI in Healthcare
11:10 Global Regulatory Landscape for AI in Healthcare
19:36 The Impact of AI on Personalized Medicine
34:41 Addressing Bias and Ethical Concerns in AI
38:39 Future Research and Conclusion
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/jW_p-w39wD8?si=Q34VZdDJPsmzOg44
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Global AI Regulation: Health AI, Global Network and Early warning system
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare presents both opportunities and challenges that demand careful consideration. The complex interplay between innovation, regulation, and ethical governance are central themes at the heart of global discussions on health AI.
This dialogue was brought to the forefront in a recent conversation with Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of Health AI - Global Agency for Responsible AI in Healthcare. Understanding Health AI and Its Mission Health AI, the global agency for responsible AI in health, is at the forefront of steering the development and adoption of AI solutions through collaborative regulatory mechanisms and global standards.
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
https://fodh.substack.com/
Youtube:
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Gaming & VR in Healthcare: How Fortnite, Roblox & More Are Revolutionizing Patient Education
Can video games really save lives?
In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we sit down with Anca Petre to explore the booming intersection of gaming, virtual reality (VR) and healthcare. From Fortnite maps that teach immunity to Roblox worlds that demystify diabetes, we showcase real-world success stories and practical steps for health organizations that want to level-up patient engagement.
What you’ll learn
2:00 Intro & why gaming matters in 2025
4:05 Success story #1 – Fortnite immunity map
8:40 Success story #2 – Minecraft mental-health build
11:55 How creator economies (Fortnite Creative, Roblox, Minecraft) open doors for health innovators
16:10 Budgeting & ROI: making the business case
20:30 4-step framework for your first health-game project
26:45 Overcoming stigma & regulatory hurdles
31:00 Future outlook: VR, digital therapeutics & beyond
Key takeaways
Gaming isn’t just entertainment—it’s a powerful storytelling engine for complex medical topics.
Creator platforms already host millions of engaged users: meet them where they play.
Partner with influencers and studios to translate clinical insights into immersive worlds.
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/sENyLJmk9wc?si=nCDKGtPqdwtqtv6Q
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Longevity and health span: Do you want to live forever or live well?
Jack Kreindler is physician, explorer, and CEO of WellFounded, who studies human performance, resilience, survivorship, and longevity. He emphasizes the distinction between longevity, which caters to the fear of death, and health span, which focuses on expanding vitality and ensuring good quality of life in the finite years we have.
The discussion dives into human performance medicine and its application beyond elite athletes to everyday individuals and patients in critical conditions. Kreindler talks about integrating human performance science with traditional medicine, improving health outcomes, and assessing current medical practices such as prehabilitation in oncology. He also touches on the impact of COVID-19 on public health perception, the rise in self-directed healthcare, and the importance of mental health and human connection for overall well-being.
Show notes:
01:03 Human Performance Medicine: Beyond Athletes
02:31 Integrating Human Performance with Traditional Medicine
06:00 Prehabilitation and Cancer Treatment
11:59 Metabolic Flexibility and Health Optimization
19:41 Founder's Health Program: A New Approach
23:02 Impact of COVID-19 on Health Perception
28:59 Introduction to the Program
29:33 Performance Medicine and Testing
31:37 Mindset Shift During COVID
32:54 Longevity and Healthspan Aspirations
36:34 Challenges and Motivations for Fitness
44:56 Impact of Technology on Health
51:30 Human Connection and Health
55:43 Conclusion and Podcast Information
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOc5reFMk8k&t=7s
www.facesofdigitalhealth.com
Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
Faces of Digital Health is a podcast about digital health, exploring how different healthcare systems adopt technologies in healthcare. Its aim is to satisfy curiosity about different cultures, identify barriers to success in different countries and finding answers and advice for accelerating the success of digital health entrepreneurs.
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