workforce development

Based on learnings from a HIMSS CIO Connect session, Lateefah Agunbiade of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center was able to collaborate with her organization's CFO to gain support for a digital modernization initiative.

Peter Shen, North America head of digital and automation at Siemens Healthineers, believes many clinicians don't use AI algorithms either because they don't understand how they work or because very few AI tools receive reimbursement.

Tjasa Zajc, special advisor for HIMSS, says HIMSS25 Europe will bring in government staff to talk about implementing the European Health Data Space and health system leaders to share use cases for AI and digital technology.

Dr. Ronald Rodriguez, professor of urology UT Health San Antonio, says that the MD/MS in AI dual degree program is designed to generate chief AI officers, clinical AI implementation specialists, healthcare data scientists and AI consultants.  

David Gibbs, associate professor and chair at Texas State University, says attending his first HIMSS conference led him to volunteer with his local chapter and, eventually, to move from consulting into higher education.

Before the technology piece, focus must be on how to train people on the up-and-coming AI tools and providing a policy that governs those tools and protecting data, says Dr. Zafar Chaudry, chief AI officer at Seattle Children's.

Investing in the workforce, in the professional development of nurses, and in rewards and recognition helps retain nurses, says Scott Estep, system vice president for nursing operations and capacity management at OhioHealth.

Because healthcare IT requires an enormous amount of late hours, a lot of travel and in-person meetings, work-life balance is a major challenge for women working in IT, says Jeffery Daigrepont, SVP of Coker Group.

GlobalData's survey of 114 healthcare professionals showed 43% of respondents believe a lack of specialized skills and talents is the primary challenge they face with digital transformation.