Keynotes
Paul Dendale
Past President of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology
Using Technology to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Lessons Learned by a Clinician
Prof. Dr. Paul Dendale is professor of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology at Hasselt University. As clinical cardiologist he has been involved in research in the development and application of digital tools for preventive cardiology. He is one of the key participants in the Coroprevention trial, the largest trial of the use of digital cardiology in prevention, sponsored by the European Commission with a Horizons grant. He is past president of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology.
Abstract
Currently cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death and disability in the world. To reduce the burden of disease prevention, new paradigms need to be developed and tested. As more than half of the world population has overweight, a large percentage has high blood lipids, high blood pressure, or diabetes, it will be difficult to individually coach them all. For that reason we are researching actively all kinds of digital tools and interventions to support people in changing their lifestyle and taking the correct medication.
In my speech I will cover different aspects of the development and implementation of digital tools in preventive cardiology.
Designing Warm Technology: Opportunities for accessible technology for people living with dementia
Rens Brankaert is full professor on technology design and implementation in health at Tranzo, Tilburg University. Professor at Fontys University of Applied sciences, school of Allied Health Professions and departmental fellow in Industrial Design, University of Technology Eindhoven. His work focusses around the design of technology, systems and services for and with people living with dementia and their ecology of care by using design research and living lab approaches. In these approaches the perspectives of person-centered care and warm technology are key. In addition he is advisor on the national dementia strategy to the Ministry of Health, and director of the Dementia & Technology expertise center at TU/e, and an active member of the international HCI and Design for dementia community.
Abstract
Currently, more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and this number is increasing. With technology and supporting services we can provide support to them and their caregivers. There is a vital role for HCI and design to provide concrete solutions to address day to day challenges and support people with dementia and their caregivers to live with a high quality of life. To achieve this we adhere the perspective of Warm technology, that puts people first, and focusses on accessibility and inclusion. In this keynote Rens will argue for this perspective, show examples from a decade of research in this domain, and show a way forward for persuasive design in the context of dementia.
Rens Brankaert
University of Technology Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Eva Deckers
Head of AI Center of Excellence at Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Meaningful Innovation In The Hands Of Healthcare Professionals
Eva Deckers leads digital healthcare programs at the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, developing hybrid care solutions with a multidisciplinary team. As head of the AI Center of Excellence, she words alongside her team to build a local AI platform to enhance care. Eva also spearheads the hospital’s strategy process to ensure future excellence and accessibility in regional healthcare.
Previously, Eva was Design Director at Philips Design, where she pioneered Data Enabled Design, integrating design, data and AI. She crafted and executed customer-driven strategies for various businesses and was part of the SaaS and Data & AI transformation leadership teams, emphasizing a customer and user-centric approach.
Her extensive design background continues to influence her work in healthcare. With other designers she started a movement to further mature design in healthcare.
Eva holds a PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology, where she explored AI from a design perspective. She remains actively involved in research and PhD mentorship, underscoring her commitment to innovation in healthcare.
Abstract
How do we move beyond pilots and truly embed innovation in healthcare? The key lies in design. Meaningful innovation doesn’t happen by itself—it requires a structured approach that starts with value for patients and professionals. In this presentation, I will show how care pathway design acts as the foundation for implementing innovations that make a real difference in practice.
Through concrete examples, we’ll explore how this design-driven approach enables large-scale adoption of hybrid care, brings the first AI solutions into daily use, and addresses the pressing challenges around data. Design is not an afterthought—it is indispensable for turning emerging technologies into sustainable improvements in care.
