SDU-SUND develops education for the digital reality
How should the health science programs at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) be developed to ensure that future healthcare professionals are equipped to participate in continuous digital and technological advancements?
- The digital healthcare system is no longer something that will arrive in the future - we are already there! And the healthcare professionals that SDU are currently educating need to be prepared to engage in the modern development throughout their careers. SDU prioritizes this highly, which is why we have been in dialogue with several employers of our graduates this spring. This serves as the foundation for all of SDU's health science programs to develop the study curricula, teaching methods, and expertise over the next year, with the aim of ensuring our graduates' future digital and technological competencies, says Merete Munk, Secretary General and Director of Education.
”The digital healthcare system is no longer something that will arrive in the future - we are already there!
Each program can have its own digital agenda related to the graduates' professional areas, but the conference also suggested the establishment of interdisciplinary courses for all health science programs at the Faculty. The content could cover more general topics such as cybersecurity, GDPR legislation, understanding the usability behind Medical Technology Assessment (MTA), artificial intelligence (AI), etc.
Furthermore, the individual programs need to be adjusted to meet the digital and technological demands that await after graduation. For example, both doctors and psychologists will increasingly participate in video consultations with patients and their families. How should communication be handled, when the meeting is no longer necessarily physical? What new considerations and aspects should psychologists and doctors be aware of?
”The students need to be prepared to use technologies. They need to understand that they will contribute to the work of innovating and developing new digital treatment options for patients.
For all health science programs, there will be a need to adapt study curricula and teaching to align with the digital reality in which the graduates will work and engage.
- The students need to be prepared to use technologies. They need to understand that they will contribute to the work of innovating and developing new digital treatment options for patients. The students must develop the skills to critically evaluate the effects of new technologies, says Professor Kristian Kidholm from CIMT (Center for Innovative Medical Technology), Odense University Hospital, and the University of Southern Denmark.