Who am I and what do I work on?
My name is Lilian Beijer and I started my professional career as a speech and language therapist in clinical practice for citizens with acquired brain damage (Sint Maartenskliniek). My academic background as a speech and language pathologist (Radboud University) mainly concerns the study of the acoustic speech signal in both healthy and pathological speech in the context of effective communication in therapeutical and societal settings.
Inspired by the complexity of digital innovation during my PhD study on the potentials of eHealth technology for dysarthric speakers (2012), I started exploring conditions for digital transformation in health and healthcare. Empirical insights and scientific evidence over the years are convincing for the necessity of accomplishing cross-overs and collaboration of relevant knowledge domains for the field of digital transformation.
Since 2023 I am a lector of Digital Transformation in Rehabilitation at HAN University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with my colleague dr. Geert Frederix, who has extensive expertise on health economic evaluations of (technological) innovations. The cross-over chair Digital Transformation in Rehabilitation is supported by the Sint Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen and aims for the acquisition of knowledge regarding conditions for meaningful application of technology for (rehabilitation) care processes. Also measurement of impact on health and society is addressed by this Chair.
The chair builds on a holistic approach of digital transformation in health and healthcare and therefore is building a multidisciplinary team of researchers and lecturers, including knowledge on health, technology, data science, logistics and business innovation.
What initiatives do I represent?
On behalf of HAN University of Applied Sciences, I represent the national Professional Doctorate programme in the domain of Health and Welfare (one out of seven domains). The Professional Doctorate programme (education level EQF 8) is currently in a pilot phase and aims to educate investigating professionals which are qualified to intervene in complex situations on the cutting edge of health and welfare. Unlike academic PhD candidates, who focus on scientific research and outcomes, professional doctorates (PD) learn to develop and validate skills, products and services for the accomplishment and validation of innovative interventions in complex daily situations. The ultimate goal is to change practices in the health and welfare domain in response to needs observed on individual (i.e. citizens, professionals) and organisational level.The PD-programme delivers highly qualified change makers.
I am also closely involved with further development of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA) with regard to technology applications for Health. This KIA evolves from close collaboration of relevant HAN-chairs (lectoraten) across different HAN-academies in order to accomplish both i) cross-overs of knowledge and ii) focus and volume of research into technology applications for transformation in health, health care and welfare. Collaboration with business activity is considered key here. The KIA is in line with the strategic HAN goals and the pillars ‘Slim, Schoon en Sociaal’ (Smart Region, Sustainable Energy and Environment and Health)
What is our connection with the Healthy Brain Pillar?
Technology is frequently applied to persuade persons to change life style habits for the benefits of primary or secondary prevention. We have experience in research in social innovation as a condition for adopting a (technological supported) healthy lifestyle in citizens and for adopting supporting tools for professionals. The chair Technological Transformation of Rehabilitation Care also addresses measurement of health, societal and economic impact of innovative interventions. Since digital transformation requires a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, we closely collaborate with other HAN research chairs (lectoraten) across HAN academies, among others: Innovation in Movement Care, Nutrition Dietetics & Lifestyle (Marian de van der Schueren), Technology for Health (Maurice Magnée), Applied Data Networks (Stijn Hoppenbrouwers), Logistics & Alliances (Dennis Moeke), in order to answer research questions such as 1) what are key factors for successful and sustainable life style changes? 2) which requirements should be met for accessibility and user adoption of technology in health and healthcare? 3) how do we measure societal impact of life style changes? 4) How can AI facilitate personalized changes for a healthy life style? 5) What is the role of effective health communication in healthy lifestyle approaches 6) how can (early) health economic evaluations contribute to effective preventive and health interventions?