Tenth Summer School will celebrate successes to date and look forward  

The tenth anniversary edition of Digital Health Summer Schools will celebrate milestones of the past decade in developing clinical informatics and digital health leaders, while looking ahead to consider what comes next.

The conference programme and education sessions will explore what the skills, training, professional competencies and supports are required to be effective digital leaders in an NHS experiencing huge change, massive workforce and demand pressures. 

Digital Health Summer Schools is the annual two-day residential event dedicated to bringing together NHS CCIOs, CIOs and CNIOs and next generation digital health leaders.  Over 50 bursary places have been awarded to future digital leaders and aspiring leaders from under-represented groups. 

Taking place on 27-28 July 2023, at the University of Birmingham, Summer Schools 2023 will delve into the major challenges facing current and future digital health leaders, including the themes of ICSs, AI, EPR, cyber security, leadership development and diversity.      

Keynote speakers for Summer Schools 2023, will be Richard Murray, CEO of the Kings Fund, who will set the national picture and context on policy, politics and money; and Vin Diwaker, clinical director for digital transformation NHS England, who will outline national priorities on digital and data.  

They’ll be joined by NHS England’s brand-new team of digital leaders: John Quinn, newly appointed CIO; Melanie Iles, interim CCIO; and Helen Balsdon interim CNIO.    

To help celebrate achievements of the past decade, a panel of past and present leaders of the CCIO/CIO/CNIO Networks – Joe McDonald (former CCIO chair), Ade Byrne (former CIO chair), Lisa Emery (current CIO chair), Daniel Ray (former CIO chair), Dr Wai Keong Wong (former CCIO chair), James Reed (current CCIO chair), Ramandeep Kaur (current CCIO vice-chair), Sarah Hanbridge (current CNIO chair), Ayesha Rahim (current CCIO vice chair)  – who will reflect on digital leadership past, present and future. 

A blueprint for future leadership

With an eye firmly on the next ten years, over the two days of Summer Schools past and present leaders of the CCIO/CIO/CNIO Networks will invite delegates to help draft a declaration, providing a blueprint for the future of digital health leadership in the NHS.   

Other plenary sessions will include a deep dive on digital developments across Birmingham and the West Midlands, with: Daniel Ray, CIO at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Dr James Reed, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health; Dr Masood Nazir, CCIO NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB; Mandy Nagra, chief delivery officer, NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB; and Nick O’Reilly, director of digital NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB  

The Shuri Network, the campaigning group for BAME women in health tech, make a very welcome return to Summer Schools, with a session dedicated to the experience of Shuri Fellows.  The theme of diversity will be further explored in the Women in Digital Leadership session on day two. 

Delegates will have almost 30 breakout sessions to choose from over the two days, including: spotlight series sessions focusing on the experiences of new CCIOs, CIOs, CNIOs, AHPs and Future Digital Leaders.  

Partner sessions around professional development and competencies will be run with: NHS Providers, Florence Nightingale Foundation, Faculty of Clinical Informatics, Federation of Informatics Professional, BCS Health and Care, the Shuri Network and the Public Records Standards Body. 

Other breakout session will include masterclass case studies with Network sponsors, AI deep dive, cyber security, patient digital communications; EPR convergence; learning from failures; next steps on Clinical Safety roles, and shared health and care records. 

Packed with networking opportunities across the two days, the CPD-accredited programme features 100+ speakers, national keynotes, interactive NHS panels sessions and digital masterclasses.  

Spaces are limited. Book now to join over 400 NHS digital leadership colleagues to network, learn and be inspired this July. Book your ticket to secure your place.