New Doctoral Student at the Center for Social & Health Innovation

MCI alumna Annabelle Fiedler will work as a PhD candidate on the topic of care systems and innovation in the healthcare sector

The research center Center for Social & Health Innovation (CSHI) at MCI has gained a new doctoral student, Annabelle Fiedler. Annabelle is a graduate of the MCI master's program International Health & Social Management. This program aims to combine aspects of the health and social sector with the fundamentals of economics, political science and international management. Furthermore, it strives to prepare students for current challenges within this sector and gain ability to develop health care at national as well as international levels. As a research center, the CSHI is located precisely at this interface; it has a multidisciplinary focus and deals with challenges in the social and healthcare sector at regional, national, and international level.  

In her new position at the CSHI, Annabelle is pursuing her PhD in collaboration with the Erasmus University Rotterdam. In line with this, she will be working on several research projects within the CSHI in the thematic areas of the Efficient Healthcare Systems and Innovative Healthcare in Tyrol (EVIGT) project. This will allow her to collect research experience and additionally gives her the space to focus on her PhD and personal development. Annabelle's dissertation project will pursue the following three objectives:

1. The development of holistic HR strategies for the healthcare industry in order to support and retain qualified professionals in the long term.

2. The identification of challenges in the use of digital health applications for different groups of people (e.g. ÖGK online portal, apps, etc.).

3. The evaluation of the implementation of digital innovations in the healthcare sector and their scientific monitoring (e.g. online appointment scheduling tools in the outpatient sector and waiting time management).

This involves working with various companies and institutions in the healthcare sector, including the Kettenbrücke Sanatorium, the S*elsbethen Social Centre, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Tyrol regional office), the foundation Liebenau and the Völs Health Services. The intention is to develop innovative approaches to recruiting specialists and improving working conditions. Furthermore, guidelines and best-practice examples for personnel strategy will be developed in order to make them accessible to other healthcare facilities and to strengthen Tyrol and Austria as a healthcare location in the long term. In addition, specific challenges in the use of digital health applications will be identified and customized and inclusive approaches developed to promote the use of these technologies. Other important aspects of the project are the promotion of the doctoral student's individual development, the transfer of results into teaching, and the significant expansion of community involvement.

A PhD position is a highly rewarding career path following completion of the master's program International Health and Social Management at MCI, but it is only one of many options available to graduating students. The program opens doors to diverse opportunities in the national and international health and social sector, with alumni thriving in leadership roles in healthcare organizations, policy-making, consultancy, project management, and entrepreneurship, amongst many. For those passionate about driving innovation and deepening expertise in one specific area, a PhD offers the opportunity to engage in high-level research and build a strong academic and professional network. Whether in academia, the private or public sector, the skills gained from this program equip graduates to make a lasting impact in the field of health and social management.