At the end of March, Chalmers University of Technology launched the course Digital Health Implementation together with Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The course is based on a concept developed by Stanford University's Biodesign Digital Health Group. During the first days, representatives from Stanford University were present in Gothenburg to provide an introduction and share their expertise in developing digital health applications.
“These first few days have been incredibly promising - the engagement of the Chalmers students has exceeded our expectations” says Oliver Aalami, clinical professor and responsible for the course at Stanford University.
The course was first introduced at Stanford University five years ago and has since gained increasing interest. Now, for the first time, the concept is being adapted for implementation at another institution.
“We at Stanford Biodesign Digital Health are thrilled to establish this first-of-its-kind international partnership with Chalmers University. Sweden’s progressive healthcare system, with its single-payer structure creates an ideal environment for testing and implementing innovative digital health solutions. We’re particularly excited about expanding the community of contributors to our open-source Spezi mobile development framework through this collaboration, which will ultimately accelerate the development of patient-centered digital health solutions worldwide” Oliver Aalami continues.
Wide range of students with different backgrounds
At Chalmers, the course is part of the Tracks education concept and is an elective course and not included in any educational program. It is aimed at master level students with an interest in digital health and experienced in programming or having experience of clinical environments. It is also open to search for external students with clinical background, to gain both technical and clinical skills among the students. During the course, students will address a specific health need, gain an introduction to useful tools, and develop their own digital health applications.
Torbjörn Lundh, professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, was the one who initiated the course. What are your impressions following the first few days of its implementation?
“I couldn't have wished for a better start to the course. It feels very privileged that Chalmers is the first university to launch this Stanford course with their great support. I am also so excited about how the concrete work in the different groups will evolve, given the enthusiasm we have already seen from the students and how very varied their backgrounds are - not only in terms of previous studies but their diverse nationalities and previous work experiences. I am grateful to Tracks for enabling us to start this course so quickly when the opportunity occurred with Stanford's Biodesign. We have also placed the teaching as close to FUSE as possible to be a part of its creative atmosphere. Furthermore, I am also pleased with the great collaboration we have in this course with Sahlgrenska University Hospital under the leadership of Peter Kelly. It feels as though we are not only building stronger links across the Atlantic but also across Wavrinsky's place.”
Sahlgrenska University Hospital about the iniative (in Swedish).
Stefan Candefjord, researcher at the Division of Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering within the Department of Electrical Engineering, is the examiner for the course. Supporting him are doctoral student Mattias Seth and postdoc Eunji Lee, who will assist in supervising the project groups. What are your expectations now that the course has started?
“It feels very exciting to be involved in leading this interdisciplinary course that is based on international collaboration between different research groups, and also being a Chalmers Tracks course where we have the opportunity to invite external students with clinical background. Together, this provides great opportunities to cover many different perspectives that are needed to create clinical value with the concepts that the students will develop.”
Creating benefits for healthcare and patients
Stefan also highlights the inspiring aspect of collaborating with the Biodesign Digital Health Group and what this can lead to in the future.
“They have a very interesting framework for their corresponding course, which we are now testing here for the first time. It will be exciting to follow the process and see whether any projects in the course become the starting point for clinical projects and ultimately create benefits for healthcare and patients," he adds.
- Programansvarig, Electric, Computer, IT and Industrial Engineering
- Full Professor, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematical Sciences