“Modern healthcare is inseparable from technology, especially in the era of electronic health records, digital health, and artificial intelligence. That is why training in medical informatics is so important: to ensure that clinicians are prepared to lead advancements in health information technology innovation now and in the future,” explains course co-director Dr. Bimal Desai from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the 4th OMI Medical Informatics seminar.
From September 7-13, 2025, 29 fellows from 24 countries gathered at Schloss Arenberg to discuss the intricacies of medical informatics. This specific seminar is part of the OMI’s leadership program, targeting primarily our alumni network. Of the 29 participants, 23 were alumni, many of whom now hold leadership positions in their home countries.
Medical informatics is the interdisciplinary field that combines healthcare, information technology, and data science to improve the management and delivery of medical services. It involves the collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of health data to support clinical decision-making, enhance patient care, and streamline healthcare operations. By integrating digital tools like electronic health records (EHRs), health information systems, and clinical decision support systems, medical informatics plays a vital role in advancing evidence-based medicine and public health.
We are beyond thrilled that CHOP is our partner for this week’s seminar, as they are world-renowned for their expertise and outstanding patient care. At CHOP, their department’s “talented multidisciplinary team combines both technological and scientific expertise to transform research and clinical data into innovative solutions that directly impact patient outcomes.” Six of these experts traveled to Austria to share their knowledge with young and eager colleagues from around the world.
The faculty cohort was made up of high-profile individuals from CHOP. One of the course co-director’s, Dr. Bimal Desai, is Vice President and Chief Health Informatics Officer, while the second course co-director, Dr. Jason Grey Faulkenberry, is the Co-Chair of the Global Health Informatics Program. Dr. Stephon Proctor is the Director of Clinical Informatics for the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Clinical Director of EHR Platform and Innovation, Dr. Hojjat Salmasian is the Vice President and Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Dr. Shikha Sinha is the Medical Director of Patient Facing Technologies and last but not least Dr. Casey E. Pitts is Associate Medical Director for Business Continuity. With such key figures, this week’s participants could not wait to hear about the faculty’s personal experiences and learn from their lectures.
The seminar had an immersive curriculum focused on the power and pitfalls of healthcare technology, from electronic health records and digital health tools to patient-facing solutions. Attendees dove into real-world successes and challenges, exploring ethical, privacy, and data security topics alongside fundamentals and best practices. Through interactive lectures and hands-on workshops, fellows developed the skills and vision needed to lead the next wave of health informatics innovation.
The fellows immensely appreciated the opportunity to present their own projects. Prior to the course, they were asked to prepare presentations on topics such as the successes, challenges, problems to solve, and/or questions related to various aspects of medical informatics in their practice, organization, or country. Three of these projects were awarded as excellent by the faculty. The topics of these ranged from leveraging medical informatics for cardiovascular care in Ukraine to a tech-driven health information assistant in Mongolia and the application of artificial intelligence in radiology in Uzbekistan.
Nhlakanipho Mangeni, MD
OMI fellow from South Africa
“Dr. Desai’s lecture on privacy and information security was fascinating and truly interactive. It touched on the four principles of ethics and their relevance to healthcare informatics. Interestingly enough, he was able to show us loopholes and cybersecurity breaches in both European and African countries, which underlined that no health system is immune to threats.”
Paula Andrea Duran Bernal, MD
OMI fellow from Colombia
“The lectures and workshops were outstanding, especially the session on artificial intelligence tools. The interaction between faculty and fellows was dynamic and inspiring, and I left the sessions with valuable knowledge that I am eager to apply in my practice.”
Saruultuya Nergui, MD, MSc
OMI fellow from Mongolia
“Understanding how informatics tools like EHRs, Clinical Decision Support, Implementation Science, and AI can improve healthcare delivery will help me design policies that promote smarter, safer, and more efficient systems. Moreover, learning alongside international colleagues expanded my perspective on global best practices, helping me to develop innovative and practical strategies within my own country’s context.”
