We Are HIMSS Member Spotlight: Omar Shaker

At HIMSS, our members are the heart of our organization, made up of more than 100,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. Because their contributions are essential to our success, we seek to recognize their many accomplishments across title, worksite, region and career stage. Today and every day, we celebrate the essential endeavors of these health information and technology changemakers. #wearehimss

Omar Shaker is a member of the Future50 Class of 2021 and the founder of Health 2.0 Egypt.

Omar Shaker, MD
Analytics Director
California Center for Functional Medicine

What do you see as the future of health information and technology? Where do you think the industry can/will go?

We will move beyond technology-based innovation and move towards service-based innovation because of its ability to address the continuum of care and support the end-user – both doctors and patients – in a meaningful way.

• We will reimagine the interfaces we build for healthcare workers and create a next-generation design that they love. It will become the norm to have seamless and invisible technology companions that do the work physicians cannot do.
• Behavioral change applications will drastically improve disease management and will be beneficial for all players.
• Larger platforms will become data centers capable of layering and integrating disparate healthcare data sources to provide proactive care.
• Money will go into alternative research that studies techniques such as mindfulness, self-compassion, energy-based modalities, and drug development. New digital tools such as virtual clinical trials, virtual reality, and augmented reality will enable that.

What is a collaboration that makes you proud?

In 2018, HIMSS was the main sponsor of Egypt's first healthcare hackathon featuring ten startups, world-class mentors, and industry veteran panel discussions. This created a ripple effect in the Egyptian ecosystem where many of these opportunities now exist for healthcare innovators.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering a career in health information and technology?

Find the reason you want to work in healthcare innovation and look it in the eye. It is a tough industry, and there are many paths you can take. Make sure you know why you are here, and ensure that your goals align with the place where you work.