“Shared values, shared challenges – and the need to act.”

Voices from the Data2Value Executive Dialogue: Anke Diehl from University Medicine Essen.

For Anke Diehl, the Data2Value Executive Dialogue demonstrated what is possible when Europe’s healthcare leaders come together. Representatives from Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, industry, and hospital management brought diverse perspectives – yet their challenges and ambitions were strikingly aligned.

A central theme of her message was the urgency of moving from strategy to implementation in the field of artificial intelligence. According to Diehl, AI in healthcare requires more than technical capability. It depends on trust, cultural change, leadership, and a willingness to rethink how organisations work.

These elements reflect the shared European values that shaped the discussions throughout the day. She underlined that protecting health data is essential – safety, security, and responsible handling must remain non-negotiable. But she also argued that progress cannot wait for perfection.

Healthcare systems should begin implementing AI where it already improves outcomes, learn from early experience, and grow from there. Her perspective captured a clear call to action: start now, improve continuously, and build confidence through practice.

Anke Diehl is Chief Transformation Officer at University Medicine Essen and contributed her insights on AI implementation and digital transformation at the Data2Value Executive Dialogue.