The exhibition, which focused on emerging trends in healthcare, brought together healthcare leaders, innovators, ministers, policymakers and students from across the globe
By Mr George Wigmore (Senior Communications Officer), Published
Academics, students and alumni from City St George’s, University of London had the invaluable opportunity to engage with the global healthcare community at the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh, which marked its return to in-person global events since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The exhibition, held from October 21 to 23, brought together healthcare leaders, innovators, ministers and policymakers, and students from across the globe, and it focused on emerging trends in healthcare, particularly digital transformation and workforce development.
Representing City St George’s were Dr Raheelah Ahmad and Dr Shashi Hirani, and they were joined by collaborator Dr Nina Zhu, from the Wellcome Trust-funded CAMO-NET, where Dr Ahmad is also a Co-I. Along with students and alumni, the team engaged with participants and showcased the University’s commitment to advancing healthcare through education and research, and it also provided further understanding of collaborative capacity strengthening opportunities to achieve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Vision 2030 objectives.
Leading the conversation on the Future Healthcare Workforce
Besides being the only UK university with a booth at the event, the City St George’s team also played a role in a number of activities, including Dr Raheelah Ahmad, Reader in Health Systems, who moderated a panel session titled “Advanced Technology and Ensuring Future-Proof Healthcare Workers”. Expert panellists from across the KSA health infrastructure provided insight into the current and future direction of the integration of AI, telemedicine, and other digital tools to equip healthcare professionals for the future. Panellists were Dr Hattan MS Alsubhi, Chief Nursing Officer at the Makkah Healthcare Cluster, Eng. Ahmed Abdullah AlZahrani, Director of Healthcare Technology Development at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, and Dr Yehia Elebrashi, CEO of Vitality Advanced Healthcare.
Global Health Exhibition 2024
Key take-home messages included the need for continual learning and adaptability among healthcare workers. The panel also emphasised that public and patient-centred approaches are essential as digitalisation becomes integral to healthcare. The panel was “essential for understanding our impact and continuously improving our practices,” said Dr Hattan.
Dr Ahmad said: “It was a privilege to work with strategic thinkers and innovators from across health transformation initiatives in KSA. We learnt so much from each other during the panel session.”
Strengthening global partnerships
Alongside panel discussions, the City St George’s team engaged in meetings with leaders from King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) to explore collaborations. Discussions focused on capacity building, training, and joint research to address KSA’s healthcare priorities including infection prevention and addressing antimicrobial resistance, as part of systems strengthening for Vision 2030.
The team was introduced by Dr Zisis Kozlakidis, Head of Laboratory Services and Biobanking at WHO and who runs the MSc Health Management WHO internships, to key figures such as Dr Nadin Almosnid, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at KSAU-HS, and Dr Majid Al Shamrani, Executive IPC Director at King Abdulaziz Medical City. The collaboration aims to exchange knowledge and develop joint initiatives to support professional development in healthcare.
Showcasing alumni and student achievements
The exhibition was also a valuable platform to highlight the achievements of City St George’s alumni and current students. Racha Naim, an MSc Health Management student and Health Information Management Specialist at Solventum, conducted a live demonstration with her company showcasing the 3M Codefinder. Her demonstration illustrated how advanced coding systems are optimising value-based care in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the contributions of City St George’s graduates in driving healthcare innovation globally.
Additionally, recent alumni and current students engaged with the City St George’s team at the exhibition, fostering connections and sharing experiences. The event allowed alumni like Rania Aljaber and current MSc Health Management students Dr Hamad Alkhalaf and Dr Mohammed Alturki to gain insights from City St George’s academics and industry leaders.
Speaking about his experiences at the event, Dr Hamad said: “It was truly inspiring to see the diverse range of innovative booths and the groundbreaking ideas they showcased. The energy and creativity were remarkable, and I left feeling more motivated than ever. I am very excited about the opportunity to stay involved and dive even deeper into promoting the incredible possibilities available within the University of London.”
Advancing healthcare education and leadership
City St George’s participation in the Global Health Exhibition highlighted the University’s role in global healthcare dialogue. The team’s discussions, sessions, and networking activities aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, reinforcing City St George’s commitment to co-producing skilled professionals ready to lead in a rapidly evolving field. This event provided a unique opportunity to build on existing partnerships and create new pathways for collaboration and impact.
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