Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences Alumni Retreat April 2026: AI & Digital Healthcare Systems
© Edmund BlokHealthcare systems across the world have reached a point of undeniable strain
Ageing populations, the rapid rise of chronic diseases, staff shortages, and escalating costs have combined to test the limits of hospitals and public health institutions. Over the past few years, Generative Artificial Intelligence has moved from experimental pilots into everyday healthcare operations, reshaping how care is delivered, documented, and managed.
AI has the potential to make healthcare safer, faster, and more personalised. At the same time, there are challenges that need to be addressed.
learn - Share - Network
Come to our Alumni Retreat that celebrates alumni from across the department's programmes: Applied Digital Health, Evidence-Based Health Care, Global Healthcare Leadership, Translational Health Sciences and Primary Care.
This annual event provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into the latest trends in global healthcare, share experiences, and engage with industry leaders.
Don't miss out on this exclusive event designed to inspire and empower healthcare professionals.
Why attend?
- Engage with leading voices in the field
- Discover cutting-edge research and its real-world applications
- Connect with alumni across academia, industry, policy, and investment to explore new opportunities.
Programme outline
Monday 13 April
From 11.00 – Registration & Introduction by Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh.
13.30 – Translating Digital Health into Practice - Speaker Prof Trish Greenhalgh (Programme Director for the MSc and DPhil in Translational Health Science, NDPCHS).
15.30 – Big Data - Chair Prof Seb Bacon (CTO, Bennett Institute). Speaker: Dr Brian MacKenna (Director of NHS Service Analytics, Bennett Institute and Specialist Pharmacist Adviser & Primary Care Medicines Data Clinical Lead, NHS England).
- Monday also includes lunch and a Welcome Dinner.
Tuesday 14 April
9.00 – Bias - Chair Dr Annemarie Weißenbacher (MGHL - President, Paracelsus Medical University). Speakers: Dr Arsenii Alenichev (Post-Poc Fellow, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp), Sanjay Rishi (MGHL - Global Head of Growth & Performance - Roche Product Development, Roche), Dr Maju Brunette (MGHL - Associate Professor, Global Health Equity, The Ohio State University College of Medicine) and Dr Iva Fattorini (MGHL - Founder, Artocene).
11.00 – Sustainability - Chair Prof Sara Shaw (Professor of Health Policy & Practice, NDPCHS). Speakers: Dr Amy Booth (Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainable Medicines), Søren Kudsk-Iversen (Consultant Anaesthetist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).
13.30 – Augmented Clinical Decision-Making - Chair Dr Gareth Obery (ADH - Consultant, Digital Health, Prova Health). Speakers: Dr Matt Prime (Head of Clinical Decision Support & Algorithms, Roche) and Benedikt von Thüngen (CEO & Founder, Sanome).
15.30 – AI Entrepreneurship - Chair Joel Schoppig (Principal - HealthTech, Oxford Science Entreprises).
18.00 – Networking & Careers event - Chair Judy Irving (Head of Programmes, NDPCHS and Executive Coach).
- Tuesday is an open night for you to organise your own dinners with friends.
Wednesday 15 April
9.00 – Global Healthcare - Chair Dr Davide Bilardi (Teaching Fellow & Programme Team Member - MGHL, NDPCHS). Speakers: Dr. Toby Velte (AI Entrepreneur, Founder of Probility AI and Budscout AI) and Dr Francis Ayomoh (DPhil Primary Healthcare).
11.00 – Law, Ethics & AI - Chair Prof Richard Ashcroft (Executive Dean, City St George's, University of London).
13.30 – Future Horizons - Chair Prof John Powell (Co-Academic Director, MSc in Applied Digital Health, NDPCHS). Speakers: Dr Samantha Roberts (EBHC - Former CEO, National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE)), Dr Karthik Adapa (Regional Adviser, Digital Health, WHO), and Dr Deborah Cohen (Senior Visiting Fellow, LSE Health and Author 'Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health').
15.30 – Keynote Speaker: Lord John Alderdice (MRCPsych, Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict).
- Wednesday includes a keynote speaker and Gala Dinner with special guests.
Thursday 16 April
9.00 – Reflections
11.00 - Empathy - Speaker Dr Charlotte Blease (Associate Professor, Participatory eHealth & Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health at Uppsala University, Research Affiliate, Harvard Medical School & Author 'Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us—and How AI Could Save Lives').
- The 2026 Alumni Retreat concludes after Lunch.
Cost for the retreat:
£328/pp - Full delegate fees - from Monday morning through to Thursday lunchtime (including all meals). Day rates can also be booked via the registration link above.
Accommodation:
If you are interested in accommodation at Harris Manchester College, please book directly on their website using booking code HMC2026PHCA.
Further Information
Contact alumni@phc.ox.ac.uk