Dr Louise Schaper, CEO of Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) is launching the first National Women in Digital Health Leadership Program.
Here is the message from the AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper:
“Today I am proud to say one of the Institute’s long-held goals comes to fruition – the launch of the national leadership program for Women in Digital Health. Many months of work and close collaboration with partners Telstra Health, Alcidion, EY and Coviu have brought us to this milestone for the Institute. Best of all, there are so many brilliant women working and achieving in our sector, we asked some of them to come forward as role models, mentors, and coaches…..We are inspired by their generous and enthusiastic response which will ensure we take the inaugural 25 participants to their next career level.
Our first group will be supported by the Institute’s team of mentors Prof Wendy Chapman, Janine Cox, Dr Ruth de Souza, Berne Gibbons, Tricia Liebke, Dr Magdalena Simonis and Dr Monica Trujillo.
The first of its kind in Australia, the program will run from February to August 2022 and is designed to cater for women at all stages of their leadership career journey. If this sounds like you, we are taking applications for the first round until 10 January 2022.”
Dr Louise Schaper PhD FAIDH FIAHSI CHIA BSc(OT)Hons
CEO, Australasian Institute of Digital Health
The AFMW members who attended our Medical Women in Technology and Health (MedWiTH) evening with Dr Schaper and Dr Amandeep Hanrsa, were fortunate to catch a glimpse into this comprehensive leadership program. It is modelled on a similar program in the USA run by Women in AMIA which has been tremendously successful.
Take a look at this program and if you see yourself wanting to grow into the Digital Health sector, this is a fabulous opportunity.
I’m thrilled to have been asked to be a mentor for this inaugural program and look forward to supporting other women develop these skills. If we don’t design the digital health systems of the future, we will be passive recipients of someone else’s design and to date, there are very few women guiding this industry. So I urge you to give this some serious consideration.
Magdalena Simonis
Chair, Medial Women in Technology and Health (MedWiTH)

Magdalena is the President of the AFMW (2020-) and former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020), National Coordinator AFMW, MWIA Scientific and Research Subcommittee co-Chair, MWIA Mentoring and Leadership, Special Interest Group, Chair
Magdalena’s deep engagements with the RACGP over many years includes chair of Women in General Practice, is currently on the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, prior to that on RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is a regular media spokesperson on numerous health issues, being interviewed most weeks by mainstream and medical media. Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews.
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner she supervises medical students and undertakes general practice research. Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of Women’s Health Victoria and Chair of their Strategy and Policy subcommittee and the AMA Victoria GP Network Committee.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was recently appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA).
A/Professor Simonis is currently a member of the National COVID-19 Taskforce expert committee, and Chair of the MWIA Mentoring and Leadership Special Interest Group.