Measuring what matters: Innovation for sustainable healthcare

Dr Sara Al Shaya

Dr. Sara Alshaya is the Director of the Data and Statistics Department at Emirates Health Services (EHS), UAE, with over 20 years of experience spanning healthcare leadership, restorative dentistry, and advanced health data analytics. She has previously served as Head of Operational Planning at EHS and Head of Specialized Healthcare Services at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), contributing to major health system transformation, national strategy development, and service quality improvement across the UAE.

Her leadership portfolio includes involvement in national programs and committees, particularly in mental health strategy development, women’s mental health initiatives, COVID-19 psychosocial support frameworks, and national health KPIs for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. She has led high-impact initiatives, including digital health applications, mental health awareness campaigns, and psychosocial support frameworks for healthcare workers and communities.

Dr. Sara’s research focuses on AI-driven healthcare analytics, population health intelligence, predictive modeling, and digital transformation of health systems. She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on COVID-19 risk prediction, ICU severity modeling, vaccination prioritization, healthcare workforce resilience, and cardiovascular research priorities in the UAE. She is widely recognized for advancing AI-enabled healthcare transformation and strengthening evidence-based, technology-driven health systems in the UAE.

Ms Rachel de Sain

Rachel de Sain is an internationally recognised digital strategist and thought leader specializing in the future of sustainable health and social care delivery. With over 20 years of global experience, Rachel has collaborated with governments, Fortune 500 companies, and leading academic institutions, driving impactful design-led innovation and system thinking. She champions thoughtful governance and implementation, emphasizing the crucial balance between People, Planet, and Prosperity.

Currently, as Director of Sustainability Measurement and Impact at Healthdirect, Rachel supports climate reporting obligations and develops innovative models for measuring the broader sustainability impacts of virtual health services.

Rachel’s research outputs include conducting the first full calculation of Australia’s health and aged care systems’ greenhouse gas emissions. She has furthered this expertise by developing a framework for measuring virtual health service emissions and presented research on telehealth emissions measurement and environmental impacts of AI in digital healthcare.

While actively working, Rachel is also pursuing a PhD focused on developing a benefits and evaluation framework to equip health decision-makers to understand the economic, environmental, and social impacts of transitioning to virtual services. This vital research supports the sector as it adapts to climate change impacts while reducing its own footprint.

Dr Coral Lozada

Coral Lozada, Ph.D., is a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Sustainability at Houston Methodist Hospital System, where she advances research and strategy at the intersection of healthcare operations, sustainability, and environmental resilience. With over a decade of experience spanning academic institutions, federal and local government, and community based organizations across the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, Dr. Lozada brings a systems focused, globally informed perspective to some of the wicked problems that face healthcare and our gulf communities.

In her current role, she leads and operationalizes sustainability aligned research initiatives that integrate environmental risk factors—such as extreme heat and air quality—with clinical demand, operational planning, and community health outcomes. Her work supports executive decision making through data driven insights, cross functional collaboration, and strategic partnerships with clinicians, data scientists, and community stakeholders. She is actively engaged in grant development, program design, and talent development through mentoring students and early career professionals.

Dr. Lozada’s leadership approach emphasizes governance, transparency, and capacity building to drive scalable, institution wide impact. She is committed to embedding sustainability and equity considerations into organizational culture, strategy, and long term planning.

Prof. Bo Kyoung Seo

Professor Bo Kyoung Seo, MD, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Section, at Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University Medicine, Republic of Korea. She also serves as the Director of Education and Training at Korea University Medicine. Her clinical and research interests focus on breast imaging, including breast ultrasound, breast MRI, quantitative analysis of breast imaging, imaging technologies for breast cancer diagnosis and management, and energy sustainability in radiology.

Ms Allison Watson

Allison Watson is the Sustainability Coordinator for Rush University System for Health in Chicago, Illinois, USA, where she leads sustainable food systems, waste reduction, and circular economy initiatives within the Office of Environmental Sustainability.

Her work spans food recovery and composting programs, values-based procurement strategies, and implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Program. She helped develop Rush’s Sustainable Food Policy and works closely with Food and Nutrition Services, Clinical Nutrition, Supply Chain, and community partners to advance environmental sustainability and health equity.

With a background in food systems and sustainable agriculture, Allison focuses on the intersection of human and planetary health—translating organizational commitments into practical, data-informed action that reduces environmental impact and strengthens community health.