This week, the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS) welcomed alumni and students from across the globe to our 2026 Alumni Retreat, held at Harris Manchester College.
Bringing together participants from programmes including Applied Digital Health, Evidence-Based Health Care, Global Healthcare Leadership, Translational Health Sciences and Primary Health Care DPhil, the annual retreat continues to play a key role in strengthening the Department’s global community – fostering collaboration, supporting continued professional development and creating opportunities for partnership and impact.
Over four days, attendees engaged with a rich programme of sessions centred on this year’s theme, AI and digital healthcare systems. The retreat opened with a presentation from Head of Department Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh highlighting the Department Strategy 2025-2030. Other Department speakers followed, including Programme Director for the MSc and DPhil in Translational Health Sciences Prof Trish Greenhalgh and Chief Technology Officer for the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Prof Seb Bacon. Prof Seb Bacon and pharmacist Brian MacKenna explored how the Institute's data tools – used by over 20,000 NHS professionals every month – are built, and where they're heading next (read the full blog post).
Discussions explored some of the most pressing challenges facing healthcare today – from workforce pressures and rising demand to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into clinical practice. Sessions on bias, sustainability, global healthcare, entrepreneurship and the ethical implications of AI brought together leading voices from academia, industry and policy, alongside a diverse alumni community. Contributions from alumni speakers including Dr Annemarie Weißenbacher, Dr Iva Fattorini, Sanjay Rishi, Jessica Rouet, Dr Francis Ayomoh, Dr Samantha Roberts, Dr Gareth Obery and current student Lucy Setian further enriched discussions, reflecting the breadth of expertise across the Department’s global network.
Dr Francis Amoyoh speaking during the session on 'Global Healthcare’
A standout session on sustainable healthcare, chaired by Professor Sara Shaw, brought together perspectives from across clinical practice, industry and research. Speakers highlighted the environmental impact of different AI approaches, the complexities of healthcare supply chains and the challenges of implementing sustainability initiatives across fragmented health systems. The discussion underscored both the urgency of addressing the environmental footprint of the healthcare industry as well as the need for robust evidence and coordinated action to drive meaningful change.
Looking ahead to the future of digital health, a session on ‘Future Horizons’ chaired by Professor John Powell explored the evolving risks and responsibilities associated with AI in health care. Speakers and participants reflected on questions of safety, trust and accountability, highlighting the complex ethical, political and practical considerations shaping the next phase of innovation.
The programme also featured a powerful and engaging keynote address from Lord John Alderdice, who drew on his background in psychiatry and politics to reflect on the drivers of decision-making within communities. He explored how experiences of humiliation or disrespect can shape collective behaviour, and emphasised the importance of fostering constructive disagreement. His address highlighted the need to engage thoughtfully across differences – an increasingly vital skill in navigating complex global healthcare challenges.
Lord John Alderdice delivering the Alumni Retreat 2026 keynote address
Reflecting on the experience, current MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care student Himmat Singh shared:
‘It was a pleasure to meet people from across the world, all of whom brought immense warmth, wisdom and a shared sense of purpose. There was something profoundly special about being in a space where such diverse experiences and perspectives came together so harmoniously...One of the most valuable aspects of the retreat was the opportunity to engage with ideas shaping the future of healthcare. The conversations on artificial intelligence, sustainability, leadership and clinical research were both timely and inspiring, and gave me a clearer sense of how healthcare is evolving. It was a beautifully organised event that combined intellectual depth with a genuine sense of community.’
Alumni also noted the importance of the retreat in maintaining connections beyond their studies. MSc in Global Healthcare Leadership alumnus Sanjay Rishi described it as ‘an excellent "top up" to our time studying with the Department’, underlining the value of ongoing engagement and lifelong learning.
Alongside the comprehensive programme, the retreat provided space for meaningful reconnection and new collaborations, culminating in a gala dinner that brought together alumni, students, faculty and partners from across the Department’s network.
The Alumni Retreat 2026 gala dinner
The Alumni Retreat is fast becoming a cornerstone of the Department's commitment to building a global community. For alumni, it offers a rare opportunity to reconnect with peers, engage with cutting-edge research and contribute their real-world expertise to collective discussions about the future of primary healthcare. As NDPCHS continues to grow its international reach, the retreat reflects something distinctive about the Department: a belief that its strength lies not just in what happens within its programmes, but in the lasting relationships, networks and collaborations that endure long after they end.