Whether we are aware of this or not, our health outcomes will be impacted by algorithms, and our health data will be used for this.

What do you do?

My current role at the Graduate School of Business is to support the growing, vibrant research culture in the school. I work with faculty, as well as other departments and PhD students from GSB, to develop cohesive research strategies and establish collaborations.

We facilitate research workshops and stimulate pertinent conversations around developing globally accredited research, with local relevance and practical implications for the continent. I also manage the GSB PhD Programme together with the PhD convenor.

What excites you about your job?

I’m most excited that I get to work with, and learn from, researchers and students who are committed to making a positive impact with their work.

I’m constantly surrounded by a diverse array of novel ideas, publications and the pursuit of conducting world- class research. The process of continuous learning and innovation has been fulfilling so far.

What is the next thing you want to achieve or learn?

I would like to contribute to the ongoing research around using AI technology in healthcare by developing publications, guidelines and frameworks for governments and organisations.

What advice would you give to students that want to follow in your footsteps?

Take the time to find something worth focusing on. We are prone to rushing and forging head to meet the demands of a highly competitive world, but we rarely take time to consider why we are pursuing our studies or careers. Once you have found the field or ideas that drive you, commit to it fully.

How do you see AI ethics in healthcare evolving in the near future?

The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030, AI will have access to a variety of sources of data (including health data) to understand patterns in disease and predict treatment and care. This means that, whether we are aware of this or not, our health outcomes will be impacted by algorithms, and our health data will be used for this.

On the positive side, this could be revolutionary for improving healthcare, public health and drug development, effectively connecting the dots of a fragmented healthcare sector.

However, this could also raise social, legal and ethical questions around the protection of personal information, equitable access to health care, and patient safety, among others. In essence, this technology could further widen the inequality and limit access to quality healthcare to those who can afford the premium.

It is therefore my hope that the industry evolves to work in collaboration with software developers, healthcare workers, ethics researchers and governance organisations to measure the impacts of this technology, exchange insights and act together to amplify the ethical oversight of using AI in healthcare.