Transforming Healthcare Through Digital Innovation
Design, Implementation and Evaluation
Dates: August 10-12, 2026
Venue: Aalborg University Copenhagen
A. C. Meyers Vænge 15, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark (DK)
Course objectives
The aim of the PhD course is to introduce research methods in transforming healthcare through digital innovation from design, implementation and to evaluation. The focus is on digital technologies such as wearables, video, social robotics, digital platforms, applications (apps), clinical decision systems, and technologies within artificial intelligence (AI).
Students will be able to:
- Analyze clinical needs and translate them into digital health solutions
- Apply user-centered and participatory design principles in the development of digital health technologies
- Develop a structured concept proposal for a digital health intervention or program
- Explain and understand key theories and frameworks in implementation science
- Critically assess methodological strengths and limitations in implementation research
- Identify relevant outcome domains when evaluating digital health technologies (clinical, organizational, economic, social, ethical)
- Apply complex and multidisciplinary evaluation frameworks (e.g., Health Technology Assessment principles).
- To get an international network
All days include lectures, problem based and interactive teaching and social activities. Students will have to write three pages report on a problem related to own Ph.D. study and give a presentation on the course where peer PhD students as well as faculty at the course will give feedback.
An important part of the course is that you have the possibility to expand you professional network and get to know new international colleagues. There will be social activities planned in the city of Copenhagen.
The course is organized in collaboration between an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers within digital health from Aarhus University, Odense University Hospital, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Aalborg University.
Faculty
- Birthe Dinesen, Professor, Laboratory for Digital Health, ExerciseTech, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University (AAU), DK (Course Chair)
- Kristian Kidholm, Professor, CIMT – Center for Innovative Medical Technology, Clinical Department, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, DK
- Nick Anderson, Cardiff Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Chief, Division of Health Informatics, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Chair, Health Informatics Graduate Group, UC Davis, USA
- Helle Spindler, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK
- Katherine Kim, Professor, UC Davis School of Medicine, Public Health Sciences & Senior Scientist for Health, UC Berkeley, USA
Program
Download flyer for full program incl. social program.
Student tasks and ECTS
We will encourage students to read the literature before start of the course. Each student will have to prepare a three-page report of their project and will receive feedback from peers participating in the course and faculty.
ECTS points in total: 2,5
Registration
Please register here – deadline is June 15, 2026.
Fee
The course fee is 3,135 DKK (approx $482 / €420).
The fee includes participation in the course, breakfast, lunch, coffee, sweets, and water every day, tour de Copenhagen and reception.
Questions about the Ph.D. course
Please send an email to professor Birthe Dinesen at bid@hst.aau.dk.
