Faces of Digital Health

• Would you put an implant in your brain? BCI with Paradromics CMO

  Stephen Ryu, a neurosurgeon and key figure in the Stanford Neuroprosthetics Lab joins Tjaša Zajc on Faces of Digital Health to demystify brain–computer interfaces (BCIs): how they work, why invasive systems outperform non-invasive ones, realistic use cases (motor control and speech), timelines and durability, safety and MRI trade-offs, cybersecurity, business models, and what Paradromics is building as a high-bandwidth BCI platform. Throughout, Stephen separates science fact from sci-fi, stressing near-term potential to restore communication and movement for people living with paralysis, while noting earlier-stage areas like mental health and pain. What we cover: - Invasive vs. non-invasive BCIs, and why electrode proximity to neurons matters for performance - Decoding motor intent and speech: training, language considerations, and LLM-enabled synthesis - Safety, surgery, and durability (why 10-year implant lifespans are a meaningful target) - MRI/CT compatibility trade-offs (and parallels to pacemakers/DBS) - Cybersecurity realities (what BCIs can not do today) - Business models, regulation, and reimbursement paths for medical-grade BCIs - Paradromics’ differentiation: a high-bandwidth platform designed to scale across use cases - Future indications: pain, sensory restoration; earlier stage: mental health biomarkers - The human impact: restoring connection for people who can’t move or speak Chapters: 01:37 How BCIs work; signals, decoding, invasive vs. non-invasive 07:13 Surgery basics, risks, and why proximity boosts performance 09:36 Decoding speech & language considerations 13:31 What’s most advanced today: motor + speech 14:58 Mental health: biomarkers and why it’s early 17:48 Longevity, MRI/CT limits, realistic replacement intervals 21:16 Patient perception: fear, performance, and value vs. alternatives 25:04 Paradromics’ platform & high-bandwidth approach 29:22 Platform use cases by brain area (motor, auditory, etc.) 31:18 Cybersecurity: risks today vs. sci-fi 32:35 Business models, regulation, and access 36:42 Trials landscape; Paradromics’ timeline 37:53 Biggest concerns: hype vs. reality 39:50 Three things everyone should know about BCIs 42:10 Potential in pain management 44:41 Role of AI/ML in decoding and assistive apps 46:36 Final thoughts www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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• Beyond UAE: Digital Health in the Middle East (Mazin Gadir)

  Mazin Gadir, a regional expert in digital health strategy, Director with Alvarez & Marsal Healthcare and Life Sciences in Dubai, reflects on the Middle East’s evolution from early EMR adoption to AI-driven healthcare. From Dubai’s innovation playground to Abu Dhabi’s depth in research, he explains how rivalry between Gulf states fuels progress and why exporting tested models to Africa and beyond is the new norm. He also questions the myth of leapfrogging, pointing out that fragmentation and lack of research remain barriers. This candid conversation explores regulation, interoperability, and the role of academia in sustaining innovation. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ 00:00 – Introduction: blockchain hype and digital health evolution 01:00 – From EMRs to health information exchanges in the Middle East 03:00 – The impact of COVID-19 on digital transformation 04:30 – Rise of patient empowerment and consumerization of healthcare 05:30 – The missing role of academia and research in the region 07:00 – Comparing Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s different innovation models 09:00 – Dubai as a playground for testing, Abu Dhabi for research depth 10:30 – Rivalry across GCC states as a driver of innovation 12:00 – Exporting Gulf digital health models to Africa and beyond 14:00 – Challenges of scaling across Middle Eastern countries 16:00 – Interoperability: current maturity and pilgrim use cases 18:00 – Opportunities and limits of leapfrogging 20:00 – The role of academia and sustainability of innovation www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/

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• Reenita Das on AI, Empathy, and UAE Healthcare

  In this interview, healthcare futurist Reenita Das, Partner at Frost&Sulivan, Healthcare Changemaker, voted top 100 women in Healthtech and Femtech, reflects on the balance between rapid digital health innovation and the human side of care. Speaking from WHX Tech in Dubai, she highlights why empathy, kindness, and caregiving remain essential despite the rise of AI. She also shares insights on the UAE healthcare system—its sophistication, inequities for migrant workers, and opportunities in mental health and digital innovation. Drawing from her experience in 10+ healthcare systems worldwide, Reenita compares global approaches and emphasizes food and lifestyle as drivers of health outcomes. 00:00 – Introduction and reflections on WHX Tech conference 01:00 – Why the human side of healthcare is more important than ever 02:30 – Risks of AI reducing clinician-patient time 03:30 – What AI can and cannot do in healthcare 05:00 – UAE healthcare system: sophistication and inequities 06:30 – Migrant workers and challenges of access to care 07:00 – Comparing healthcare systems across the US, Japan, and India 08:30 – Food and lifestyle as drivers of health outcomes 09:30 – Digital health opportunities in the UAE (mental health, diagnostics, aggregation) 10:30 – Misconceptions about women, culture, and technology in the UAE 11:30 – Advice for startups entering the region www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/

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• Digital Dentistry + UAE: Most Digitally Connected Place on Earth (Sam Shah)

  Dr. Sam Shah is a clinician, advisor, and former startup founder. At WHX Tech he sat down with Tjasa Zajc to discuss the future of dentistry, oral health, and broader digital health innovation. He explains why dentistry has lagged behind other specialties, how oral health connects to overall wellbeing, and why the UAE stands out as “the most digitally connected place on the planet.” Sam highlights government-backed sandboxes, integration engines, and lessons other countries can learn from the Emirates—while also pointing to persistent challenges in standards, interoperability, and prevention. Show notes: 00:00 – Introduction and Sam’s journey from dentistry to digital health 01:00 – Innovations in dentistry: apps, smart toothbrushes, imaging AI 02:00 – Why dentistry lags behind in digital adoption 03:00 – Oral health and its impact on overall health and wellbeing 04:00 – The social determinants of oral health 05:00 – Career across multiple domains: public health, startups, law, economics 06:00 – Why global solutions can’t simply be “lifted and shifted” 07:30 – What makes the UAE stand out: digital connectivity and government support 08:30 – Key government initiatives: Malaffi and Dubai Sandbox 10:00 – Cooperation between federal and emirate levels 11:00 – Lessons for other countries: leadership that listens 12:00 – Areas for improvement: standards, interoperability, prevention 13:00 – Longevity, wellness, and the need for value-based care

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• Why Free Apps Are Never Free: Cybersecurity Lessons with Leila Taghizade

  At WHX Tech, cybersecurity expert Dr Leila Taghizade, Group Head of Cyber Risk Management / CISO IberoLatAm at Allianz, breaks down what every individual—and every hospital—should know about protecting themselves in 2025. From the basics of stronger passwords and two-factor authentication to the risks of free apps and third-party tools, she explains in clear terms why “there’s no such thing as free lunch” in cybersecurity. Leila also highlights the dangers of phishing, the vulnerability of medical devices, and how AI both helps defenders and lowers the cost of attacks. Show Notes 00:00 – Introduction: why cybersecurity basics matter in 2025 00:30 – Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, limiting app permissions 02:00 – Giving apps only the access they really need 03:00 – Cybersecurity in healthcare: medical devices as weak links 04:30 – Default passwords and firmware updates as major risks 05:30 – Phishing: why reporting is critical for protection 07:00 – Everyday cyber hygiene: logging out, password managers 08:30 – AI’s impact on cybersecurity: lowering cost of attacks, improving defense 10:00 – The risks of free apps and third-party tools 11:00 – Data leaks and how AI tools may unintentionally share information 12:30 – AI as a double-edged sword: prevention vs. risk 14:00 – Final advice: caution doesn’t mean fear, but informed use www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

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