CSE Digital Health Program Earns ‘Academic Institute of the Year’

CSE has been recognized with a highly prestigious accolade at the 2022 ZIMAM Digital Health Awards, winning “The Academic Institute of the Year” in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The college was chosen for demonstrating teaching and research excellence in digital health and meeting the highest standards of digital health training that responds to the continuously evolving needs of the job market. 

Faculty members in the Division of Information and Computing Technology are involved in innovative research projects in the areas of digital health and health informatics, including the use of Big Data. Aiming to address societal needs, their research tackles pressing healthcare issues in Qatar and the region, including mental health and diabetes, through novel digital health tools and platforms. CSE is collaborating with Hamad Medical Corporation on multiple projects, including smart and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted healthcare solutions and applications. The pioneering contributions from these digital health projects have been recognized internationally. 

Throughout its educational contributions, the college offers two advanced degrees, the Master of Information Systems in Health Management and the Master of Data Analytics in Health Management, both designed to lead cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary studies in the growing field of health informatics. Functional and applied research has positioned CSE as a vital hub of knowledge on the application of digital health technologies and the inclusive design of technologies that can preserve wellbeing and promote positive behavior change. Workshops and training initiatives in partnership with stakeholders also empower clinical professionals and ultimately aim to improve the future of healthcare. 

Those pioneering CSE’s digital health programs are Dr. Dena Althani who oversees the programs; Dr. Tanvir Alam who is a leader in bioinformatics; Dr. Zubair Shah who is a lead in public health informatics; Dr. Raian Ali who is an expert in digital well-being, and Dr. Mowafa Househ who specializes in the field.

In recognition of these initiatives, HBKU won the Digital Health Award out of a competitive pool of prestigious universities who were also nominated. In presenting the award, the Scientific Committee noted that CSE stood out as a leader exemplifying high standards of teaching and developing research within the digital healthcare domain. 

The 2022 Digital Health Awards were held in collaboration with Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a global leader for reforming the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.