Anouk Verhellen

Anouk Verhellen joined SMIT in June 2019 as a researcher at the Digital Health and Work unit, merging her passion for equitable healthcare with her interest in innovative technologies and her background as a communication scientist. Her hands-on experience as and Emergency Room (ER) nurse at UZLeuven and Kliniek Sint-Jan in Brussels, equipped her with invaluable insights into the numerous challenges healthcare workers encounter today. 
 

She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences earned from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2008. Her thesis on HIV and AIDS prevention at the University of the Western Cape ignited her passion for health and healthcare leading her to pursue a nursing degree. Graduating with a Bachelor in Nursing from University Colleges Leuven Limburg (UCLL) in 2014, she further expanded her clinical expertise with a Bachelor degree in Emergency and Intensive Care Nursing (UCLL, 2019), while employed full-time as an ER nurse. 

Throughout her career at SMIT, she has been an active contributor to various multidisciplinary research projects in digital health. Notably, in the eHealthmonitor 2019, she delved into the utilization of eHealth tools and services among Belgian citizens and healthcare workers, including GPs, specialists, pharmacists, nurses, and nursing assistants. Additionally, in the imec.ICON SARA project, focused on Augmented Reality in Neurosurgery and Orthopedic surgery, she conducted comprehensive research into surgeons’ requirements and their acceptance of this innovative technology.  The DIMENTIA project was her initial experience with big data and AI for health, concentrating on harnessing digital health data for both primary (diagnosis and treatment) and secondary (research and development) processes. 

Her current research primarily focuses on data governance, the ethical implications and considerations in human-AI interaction within healthcare and the potential impact and challenges of using AI-based algorithms for diagnosis, treatment and care. Additionally, she holds a particular interest in empowering healthcare workers by equipping them with the requisite support, knowledge and skills to effectively utilize digital health innovations and address the challenges posed by the increasingly digitalized and data-driven healthcare environment. Throughout her research, she mainly focuses on ensuring equitable and ethically sound solutions, and advocating for the needs of all stakeholders. By applying her expertise in real-world use cases, such as mapping the Flemish eHealth data sharing infrastructure, or exploring future solutions to avoid food waste in nursing homes, she aims to make a meaningful impact in the dynamic field of digital health.