Student Blog Post

What drew you to ManagiDiTH:

Three EU countries. One and a half years. One bold mission: Digital Transformation in Health.

That’s what caught my attention. ManagiDiTH isn’t just another degree—it’s a challenge across borders, cultures, and disciplines.

The idea of studying in a programme led by three European universities, alongside professionals from different corners of the health sector, felt like a unique opportunity to grow. I’ve always been interested in how digital tools can bridge gaps in care, reduce inefficiencies, and ultimately improve lives.

ManagiDiTH offered the perfect mix of academic depth, real-world relevance, and international collaboration—all focused on one of the most urgent needs of our time: transforming healthcare for the digital age.

Your background & how it connects:

I’m Christine Driva from Greece, and I’ve dedicated the past 20 years of my professional life to the healthcare sector. My academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Management in Healthcare, followed by a second Bachelor’s in Economics, and later a Master’s in Healthcare Management. Over the years, I’ve worked across various facets of the field, gradually developing a strong interest in data protection and digital governance. Today, I’m a certified Data Protection Officer with a specialization in GDPR auditing—an area that has become increasingly critical as healthcare systems transition to digital environments. For me, ManagiDiTH is not just a continuation of my journey; it’s a strategic next step that allows me to bring together my background in health, economics, and data governance to contribute meaningfully to digital transformation in healthcare.

How the programme has changed your perspectives, goals, or skills:

The ManagiDiTH programme has broadened my perspective as a healthcare manager, showing me how deeply digital transformation is tied to policy, system design, and technology. I’ve gained valuable insights into how AI can be used responsibly in healthcare, and how strong public policies and cybersecurity frameworks are essential for building trust in digital tools. The programme helped me connect the dots between innovation and governance, and it has inspired me to take a more strategic role in shaping healthcare systems that are not only efficient, but also secure and future-ready.

The multicultural & online learning environment:

One of the most enriching aspects of the ManagiDiTH programme has been the multicultural and interdisciplinary learning environment. Studying alongside professionals from different countries, healthcare systems, and career paths has opened my eyes to how varied—yet connected—our challenges and solutions can be. A discussion about digital record-keeping in one country might spark debate about privacy concerns in another. A nurse from Finland may prioritize usability in digital tools, while a policymaker from Eastern Europe focuses on integration and funding. These perspectives have challenged me to step outside my national context and think more globally. It’s no longer just about what works in Greece; it’s about what could work across Europe. The online format, despite its challenges, has actually strengthened our collaboration—we’ve learned to listen more carefully, communicate more clearly, and work together across time zones. That diversity of thought has not only expanded my knowledge but also made me a more adaptable and inclusive professional.

How it has changed you:

The ManagiDiTH programme has profoundly reshaped the way I view healthcare transformation. As a healthcare manager and Data Protection Officer with a long-standing commitment to system efficiency and patient outcomes, I’ve come to see how essential well-crafted public policies and thoughtful system design are in making digital tools truly effective. Through courses like the one on policy frameworks—particularly the TAPIC model (Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Integrity, and Capacity)—I gained practical tools to assess and improve real-world healthcare systems. We used TAPIC to evaluate national digital health strategies and identify common weaknesses—not in the vision, but in governance and execution. For example, investing in digital records is not enough; without clear accountability or capacity-building, those investments often fall short of their intended impact.

Equally transformative was our exploration of artificial intelligence in healthcare. These discussions helped shift my perspective—AI isn’t just about automation or data analytics; it’s about supporting decision-making, improving triage, and enabling healthcare professionals to deliver more personalized, human-centered care. We studied real-life use cases such as AI-driven diagnostics and predictive models for chronic disease management, where benefits are clear—but only when technologies are introduced with ethical design and transparency. Cybersecurity also emerged as a critical theme—not merely a technical requirement, but a foundation of trust. No matter how advanced a digital system is, without robust protections, it risks failure or public resistance. These insights have broadened my understanding of leadership in healthcare. I no longer see my role as limited to management—I now feel prepared and motivated to help design secure, ethical, and inclusive health systems that are future-ready and responsive to the public good.

Highlight(s) from the Year:

One of the standout experiences of this year was the Summer School, where online learning turned into real human connection. Meeting some of my classmates in person after months of virtual collaboration was incredibly energizing. We weren’t just exchanging ideas anymore—we were building trust, having honest conversations, and challenging each other’s assumptions in the best way. I particularly remember a group project where we had to assess digital health tools using ethical, technical, and regulatory lenses. It was intense, but it brought together everything we’d learned so far and showed me how powerful truly interdisciplinary work can be.

Looking Ahead:

As I continue in the programme, I’m excited to dive deeper into how data governance, AI, and policy intersect in digital health. I hope to play a role in shaping systems that are not only efficient and innovative but also ethically grounded and secure. With my background in management and data protection, I believe I can contribute to building trust in digital health—trust that is essential for both professionals and patients in a rapidly changing landscape.

Closing Thoughts:

I truly believe that digital transformation in healthcare is not just about technology—it’s about people, trust, and values. As someone once said, “Technology alone is not enough—it’s technology married with the liberal arts, with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.” ManagiDiTH is helping us become not just digital experts, but responsible leaders for the future of health. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. I hope it inspires other professionals to join this incredible journey of digital transformation in healthcare.