Leading scientist, Dr Eric Topol, visits the UK to kick-off ground-breaking technology review

Health Education England was delighted to welcome leading American cardiologist, geneticist, and digital medicine researcher, Dr Eric Topol, to London last week.

His visit marked the start of a major independent review, aimed at exploring how to prepare the healthcare workforce through education and training to deliver the digital future.

During the three-day visit, Dr Topol met with world leaders in artificial intelligence, digital medicine, genomics, and robotics to explore the extraordinary opportunities new technologies offer the healthcare workforce, and their ability to power a sustainable and vibrant NHS.

Importantly the review - commissioned by the Secretary of State and facilitated by HEE - will feed into the Workforce Strategy. It will look at the impact of game-changing technologies on the skills required from future healthcare professionals as well as those currently working in the NHS, and how we ensure their education and training meets these needs.

Speaking on his visit, Dr Topol highlighted the need for technological advancements in healthcare, saying; "we desperately need technological innovation in healthcare. Artificial intelligence is already in every aspect of our lives, from navigation to voice recognition. It will now be applied to healthcare, the final frontier.”

Patrick Mitchell, Senior Responsible Officer for the Topol review at Health Education England said; ‘It is exciting to be involved in such an innovative programme working with Dr Topol and so many leading experts. The group provided huge amounts of knowledge and vigour to the review during their meeting last week and it was unanimously agreed that the patient and public will always be at the heart of this digital revolution. We must now ensure that education and training remains relevant and forward thinking.’

For more information: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/topol-review