Towards a Globally Recognized and Harmonized Degree of Master of Digital Health (MDH): The Case for an MDH Alliance
Main Article Content
Keywords
digital health, health informatics, information technology, MDH, education
Abstract
The digital transformation of healthcare is advancing at an unprecedented pace, reshaping systems, providers, and societies worldwide. While technological development accelerates, the education and training of the health workforce lag behind, producing critical gaps in digital competencies and undermining the adoption of innovation. Biomedical and Health Informatics (BMHI) has historically provided the academic foundations for this field, but the emergence of Digital Health as a broader, interdisciplinary paradigm demands new approaches to education. This paper explores the rationale for a globally harmonized Master of Digital Health (MDH) degree, modeled after the success of the Master of Public Health (MPH), and presents a call for the establishment of an MDH Alliance. We review the history of BMHI education, the evolution towards Digital Health, the development of knowledge, skills, and competences (KSCs), and the role of the workforce in digital transformation. We highlight recent calls for an MDH degree by global thought leaders, drawing inspiration from the MPH, and building on our institutional experience transitioning from a Master of Medical Informatics to a Master of Digital Health. We argue that a coordinated international initiative is essential to ensure quality, comparability, and professional mobility in Digital Health education, and to provide the workforce required for equitable and sustainable digital transformation of health systems.
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