Bridging Minds: Adapting to Change in the Digital Health Era

The SPARK Issue #2

Co-authored with Tayaba Khan , Health Innovation Leader

“In a world where health and technology evolve faster than job titles, what does it mean to grow, shift, and show up differently?”

🌍Why This Matters

Innovation isn’t just about building better tools, it’s about who we become in the process. The digital health sector has outpaced traditional career paths, creating new roles, hybrid identities, and opportunities that defy linear trajectories. For healthcare professionals, especially women, immigrants, and underrepresented communities, this shift can feel daunting, despite being a significant professional opportunity. The World Health Organization notes that women make up 67% of the global health and social care workforce but hold only 25% of senior leadership roles [1]. Meanwhile, a Deloitte study found 60% of health systems are midway through their digital transformation journey, underscoring the ongoing evolution [2].

This edition is for those who are navigating this transformation. Whether you’re a clinician-turned-strategist, a researcher-turned-founder, or somewhere in between, a question that frequently creeps up in our minds is:

• Is this path for me?
• Do I still belong here?
• Am I allowed to evolve?
• Where can I find others like me?

👣Our Personal Journeys: Embracing the In-Between

Dr. Tayaba’s Story: As a dentist and caregiver, I saw patients and providers struggle to connect in fragmented digital systems. Later, as a project manager in health tech startups, I noticed innovations often failed because the patient wasn’t at the center. My pivot to instructional design and healthcare communications stemmed from a personal moment: navigating the healthcare system for a loved one and realizing how disorienting it could be. That frustration fueled my mission to bridge gaps through empathy-driven design and leadership.

Evangelia’s Story: As a biomedical engineer, I have worked in structured research environments, chasing precision and accuracy. Now, early in my shift to entrepreneurship with startups, I’m excited by the ambiguity where innovation sparks. It’s been a series of bold steps: shedding rigid titles, learning to pitch ideas clearly, and embracing constant learning. Dr. Tayaba Khan’s extensive experience, from clinician to innovation leader, inspires me. Our shared passion makes this journey feel like a collective mission. My “why”using science for real-world impact drives me, and I’m energized by what’s next.

We both faced:

• Subtle discomforts that sparked bigger questions about purpose.
• Unexpected skills like storytelling and cultural intelligence that became our superpowers.
• The need to let go of old identities while reclaiming our core values.

The personal touch? It’s in the vulnerability of admitting we didn’t have all the answers and the courage to keep asking questions.

🔄What Change Really Looks Like

As Brené Brown says, “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” In healthcare, change is rarely glamorous. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2025, 50% of employees will need reskilling due to new technology [3]. Yet, systemic barriers like rigid job criteria or siloed infrastructures can make adaptation feel impossible.

Change often feels like:

• Imposter syndrome in tech-driven rooms, despite years of expertise.
• Redefining roles and influence while balancing curiosity and confidence.
• Creating spaces where it’s safe to say, “I don’t know, yet.”

But change also brings:

• Creative synergy between disciplines, vital for human-centered healthcare.
• Deeper alignment with personal purpose.
• Cultural humility and the realization that we don’t have to navigate alone.

Deloitte’s 2023 Global Health Care Outlook Survey predicts that 71% of health system leaders expect productivity gains from digital technologies, with 90% anticipating accelerated transformation [4]. The personal touch, empathy, storytelling, and human connection ensures these technologies serve people, not just systems.

🧠The Mindset for Sustainable Transformation

From our lived experiences and mentoring, we’ve identified what drives successful adaptation:

• Permission to Evolve: Allow yourself to explore identities beyond credentials. Give yourself micro-permissions to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
• Build Communities: Join or create communities of practice that encourage growth over categorization.
• Leverage Soft Skills: Use empathy, storytelling, and cultural intelligence to foster inclusive cultures aligned with a shared vision.
• Embrace Diverse Thinkers: Include neurodiverse perspectives and unconventional strategists to challenge the status quo.

As Dr. Tayaba says, “We don’t need more professionals who conform. We need more who connect.”

💡Our Shared Takeaway

“It’s not the tool that decides. It’s the hands and the heart of the one who wields it.” – Kevin Sands

Digital health needs professionals who aren’t afraid to evolve, experiment, and bridge old and new. The personal touch of your unique experiences, struggles, and passions is what makes transformation meaningful.

• If you’re navigating change, you’re not behind. You’re crafting the blueprint for what’s next.
• If your title doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to create a new one.
• If you feel in-between, you’re at the helm of transformation.

Let’s redefine belonging in digital health as a space of wonder, experimentation, and humility. Let’s build careers that make room for purpose and possibility.

💬Join the Conversation

• Share your story of navigating change in digital health. What’s been your biggest lesson?
• Connect with us on LinkedIn to continue the discussion!

👥About the Authors

Tayaba Khan Healthcare Innovation Leader, Strategic Communications, Patient Engagement, Driving Human-Centered Change

Evangelia Athanasiou Biomedical engineer turned startup builder and founder of The SPARK. Passionate about translating research into real-world health innovation and helping bold ideas become ventures that matter.

📚References

• [1] World Health Organization. (2020). Delivered by Women, Led by Men: A Gender and Equity Analysis of the Global Health and Social Workforce. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515467
• [2] Shudes, C., Agarwal, R., DeMatteis, J., & Ramachandran, R. (2021). Digital transformation in healthcare. Deloitte Insights. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/digital-transformation-in-healthcare.html
• [3] Li, L. (2022). Reskilling and upskilling the future-ready workforce for Industry 4.0 and beyond. Information Systems Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10308-y
• [4] Deloitte. (2023). 2023 global health care outlook survey. Deloitte Insights. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/global-health-care-outlook.html