ORLANDO, FLORIDA – (February 14, 2019) – Bogi Eliasen, Special Advisor on the Future of Health at the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, Denmark - and also known as ‘the Faroese futurist’ - has picked up the coveted HIMSS Future50 International Achievement Award at a special ceremony at HIMSS19 in Orlando, Florida, this week.
Eliasen, a knowledge broker with a global perspective - he was born in the Faroe Islands, has lived Brazil and worked in Bulgaria - was one of the originators of the Faroe Islands’ FarGen project, which aims at whole-genome sequencing the entire Faroese population, to enable research and develop opportunities in genomics.
Eliasen’s current work with the Institute for Future Studies, an independent not-for-profit, focuses on how genomics and data-driven healthcare can be designed into the societal framework for personalized healthcare. Together, they have been pioneering an approach called The Nordic Way, which Eliasen, who has a background in political science and law, hopes to develop for use in international settings. The approach is currently being realized, in cooperation with 30 of the major Nordic stakeholders in health, through the ambitious Nordic Health 2030 project. “Receiving this award is recognition that what we are doing at the Institute is having an influence,” said Eliasen, a member of the HIMSS Nordic Community Planning Committee and chair of the Danish UNESCO bioethical committee. “It is also an appreciation from HIMSS of the way we are working with ecosystems and convergence, which is what HIMSS itself does so well.
“I am sure that achieving this award will open doors for us and provide easier access to some of the necessary stakeholders, as we move beyond the Nordics and Europe - which is where much of our work has been to date.”
Bruce Steinberg, Managing Director and EVP for HIMSS International commented: “To effectively make the transition to digital health, not just in individual ‘pockets’ but globally, we need bridge builders who can help forge links, enabling us to share expertise, collaborate across borders and find collective ways forward. Bogi Eliasen is one such bridge builder. The work he has been doing at the Institute to create a template for the future – not just for the Nordics, but perhaps the rest of the world – deserves recognition and support.”
The International Achievement Award is part of Future50, a HIMSS initiative that aims to identify and bring together the top 50 healthcare IT leaders in Europe and the Middle East. The award recognizes the Future50 honouree who has demonstrated ‘significant leadership and extraordinary contributions’ to HIMSS communities over the past year, as well as a commitment to the healthcare information and technology industry.
The award was presented at a special Awards Gala recognizing those individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to health information and technology, which took place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on February 13, as part of the HIMSS19 Global Conference and Exhibition (February 11-15, 2019).
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HIMSS is a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of health through information and technology. As a mission driven non-profit, HIMSS offers a unique depth and breadth of expertise in health innovation, public policy, workforce development, research and analytics to advise global leaders, stakeholders and influencers on best practices in health information and technology. Through our innovation companies, HIMSS delivers key insights, education and engaging events to healthcare providers, governments and market suppliers, ensuring they have the right information at the point of decision. As an association, HIMSS encompasses more than 72,000 individual members and 630 corporate members. We partner with hundreds of providers, academic institutions and health services organizations on strategic initiatives that leverage innovative information and technology. Together, we work to improve health, access and the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, HIMSS serves the global health information and technology communities with focused operations across North America, Europe, United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.www.himss.org