The Health Innovation Playground

Yousef H. Ahmed
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  • Medicine
  • Updated Daily

Health innovation isn't just about serious labs and complex jargon—it's about the messy, exciting process of building the future. Hosted by Yousef H. Ahmed an MD based in Barcelona, This is your space to explore the breakthroughs shaping medicine today. We meet with pioneers in Hospitals & Biotech —the Scientists, CEOs, and entrepreneurs— driving Healthcare transformation forward. The future of healthcare should be accessible, adventurous, and clear. Whether you're an industry professional or just curious about what's next, come join us.

Episodes

  1. On Nurturing Barcelona's Health Innovation Ecosystem ft. Maria Ripol | Episode 9

    May 14

    On Nurturing Barcelona's Health Innovation Ecosystem ft. Maria Ripol | Episode 9

    Maria Ripol heads Open Innovation and Digital Transformation at Barcelona Health Hub, one of Europe's most active health innovation institutions, based inside the historic Hospital de Sant Pau. She didn't arrive there through a medical degree or a tech background, she came through international relations, public policy. In this episode we talk about what open innovation actually looks like from the inside; the daily reality of connecting startups, hospitals, pharma, investors, and insurers, and why that job is as much about managing expectations as it is about making connections. We get into what separates a health startup that is ready from one that isn't, why regulation might be less of a wall and more of a competitive advantage, and what AI is genuinely doing well in health versus where the hype is running ahead of the reality. An honest conversation with someone who has had a front row seat to Barcelona's health innovation scene and isn't afraid to say what she actually thinks. Recorded in Barcelona.

    45 min
  2. A Witness to Barcelona's Health Tech Ecosystem ft. Aline Noizet | Episode 8

    Apr 24

    A Witness to Barcelona's Health Tech Ecosystem ft. Aline Noizet | Episode 8

    Aline Noizet has been inside Barcelona's health tech ecosystem since the beginning, when wearables were just about counting steps and hospitals had no idea what digital health meant. Fifteen years later, she is one of the most connected people in the space, and in this episode she reflects on everything she has witnessed along the way. We talk about how the ecosystem was built and who built it, what makes a health startup succeed or quietly disappear, and what the full journey of a digital health product actually looks like from idea to reimbursement. We also get into femtech and why women's health is still fighting for the funding and attention it deserves, the real state of prevention and precision medicine, and where she sees healthcare going in the next ten years. A conversation with someone who has seen it all, and still believes the best is ahead. Recorded in Barcelona. Visit Youtube for a video version.

    35 min
  3. Get Your Tech to Patients: A Market Access Masterclass ft. Chus Castillo | Episode 7

    Mar 16

    Get Your Tech to Patients: A Market Access Masterclass ft. Chus Castillo | Episode 7

    Market access is the invisible bridge between a health technology being approved and a patient actually using it. In this episode of the Health Innovation Playground, we sit down with Chus Castillo — a biologist-turned-strategist with over 25 years at Roche, GSK, and Pfizer, now leading market access and pricing consulting at IGES Spain. We unpack what market access actually means day-to-day (hint: five key questions every innovator must answer), how the rules differ dramatically between Europe, the US, and China, and why pricing is no longer just a number — it's a tool of national policy. We also get into the quiet revolution happening in Health Technology Assessment, where social impact and environmental sustainability are starting to count alongside clinical evidence. For entrepreneurs: Chus is direct — your product will not sell itself, no matter how good your data is. Here's what you actually need. Recorded at IGES Spain, Barcelona This is the Health Innovation Playground , with Yousef H. Ahmed MD Substack: ⁠https://healthinnovationplayground.substack.com/⁠ Connect with Yousef: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousef-h-ahmed-368b79103/⁠

    37 min
  4. She Treated Patients, Built a Startup, Now She Transforms Hospitals ft. Dr. Anna Sala | Episode 6

    Feb 24

    She Treated Patients, Built a Startup, Now She Transforms Hospitals ft. Dr. Anna Sala | Episode 6

    Dr. Ana Sala, Head of Innovation at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, shares her unconventional journey from Allergy Specialist to Health tech founder to Institutional innovation leader. In this episode, Ana reveals why 90% of healthcare startups fail, the brutal truth about regulatory barriers in Europe, and why her anaphylaxis startup had to close despite proving the solution worked. She breaks down what innovation units actually do in hospitals, shares success stories from AI-powered pathology to CPR monitoring patches, and paints a vivid picture of healthcare's future—liquid hospitals, digital twins, and AI that lets doctors be human again. Whether you're a healthcare professional curious about innovation, an entrepreneur navigating the med-tech maze, or just fascinated by how medicine is evolving, this conversation is packed with hard-won insights from someone who's lived on both sides of the innovation divide. Follow Dr Anna Sala on Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasalacunill/ Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠https://healthinnovationplayground.substack.com/⁠

    36 min
  5. Personalized Nutrition and Epigenetics (Part 2) ft. Melina | Episode 5

    Feb 5

    Personalized Nutrition and Epigenetics (Part 2) ft. Melina | Episode 5

    Melina got Epigenetics and Nutrition together and Food is getting very personalized In this second part of my chat with Melina, we go deeper into nutrition and genetics and she gives us very nice tips on how to have a healthier life and eat better. Hope you enjoy listening.

    34 min
  6. Eating better, living better & the future of Food (Part 1) ft. Melina | Episode 4

    Jan 22

    Eating better, living better & the future of Food (Part 1) ft. Melina | Episode 4

    Can we get personalized meal plans based our Genetics? In this episode of The Health Innovation Playground, we sit down with Melina Mauro, a nutritionist working at the fascinating intersection of genetics and nutrition. We have a nice chat about everything food and nutrition. We explore everything about how we eat: from the basics of eating well to the deep influence of culture on our choices. We dive into the science of longevity and how understanding your unique genetic code could be the key to unlocking better health.  We discuss: - Genetics vs. Habits: How much control do we really have? - The Culture of Food: How our eating habits affect our health - Precision Nutrition: How your DNA can guide you to the food that is actually better for you. Whether you are looking to optimize your health or just curious about the future of food, this conversation is for you.

    39 min
  7. Dentistry of the Future (ft. Manushree Bagri) | Episode 3

    Jan 5

    Dentistry of the Future (ft. Manushree Bagri) | Episode 3

    Is the future of dentistry drill-free? Today, we are joined by Dr. Manjushree Bagri to discuss the transition from "Drill and Fill" to "Predict and Prevent." We dive deep into the technologies disrupting oral healthcare and the systemic issues causing dentist burnout. Key Topics Covered: AI in Diagnostics: How data visualization builds patient trust. 3D Printing: Moving from messy impressions to chairside biomaterials. The Systemic Connection: Understanding the mouth as a lab for the whole body. Accessibility: The vision for "Smile on Wheels" and democratic dental care. 🚀 Join the Health Innovation PlaygroundDon't just listen—innovate with us. Subscribe to our newsletter for deep dives into the technologies and ideas discussed in this episode.👉 Subscribe here: ⁠https://healthinnovationplayground.substack.com/⁠ 👋 Meet the HostsConnect with us on LinkedIn for daily insights and behind-the-scenes discussions: Yousef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousef-h-ahmed-368b79103/ Tamila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamila-ulan/⁠ 🎙️ About Our GuestFollow Dr. Manjushree Bagri to stay updated on her work in dental data and innovation: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-manushree-bagri-1b4767222/ Keywords: Health Innovation, Digital Dentistry, MedTech, Preventative Medicine, Medical Entrepreneurship, Dental AI, Healthcare Systems, Patient Experience.

    35 min
  8. Can AI Make Medicine More Human? (ft. Alex Aísa) | Episode 2

    12/22/2025

    Can AI Make Medicine More Human? (ft. Alex Aísa) | Episode 2

    Is Artificial Intelligence going to replace doctors? Or will it just replace the paperwork? In this episode of The Health Innovation Playground, we sit down with Alex Aísa, a Telecommunications Engineer and AI Expert at the Innovation Unit of Vall d'Hebron Hospital. We strip away the futuristic hype to talk about what is actually happening inside one of Barcelona’s biggest hospitals. Alex explains why the biggest challenge isn't building the algorithm—it's cleaning the data and accesing it. In this episode, we explore: Actual usage of AI in todays's hospital Implementation Reality: Why innovation moves slower in healthcare than in tech. Why Hospitals need Innovation UnitsThe Future: Why Alex believes AI will finally give doctors time to look patients in the eye again. If you are a curious about the future of medicine with AI, this conversation bridges the gap between the code and the bedside. About the Guest:Alex Aísa is a Telecommunications Engineer specializing in AI application in clinical environments, currently driving innovation at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. Join the Playground:Follow us on LinkedIn for visuals and summaries from this episode! #DigitalHealth #AI #HealthcareInnovation #VallHebron #DataScience #MedTech

    51 min
  9. What is Health Innovation? (ft. Josep Antoni Quiroga) | Episode 1

    12/10/2025

    What is Health Innovation? (ft. Josep Antoni Quiroga) | Episode 1

    We often hear the word "Innovation" thrown around in healthcare. It’s on every hospital website and every startup pitch deck. But what does it actually mean? Is it just about cool gadgets, or is it a fundamental shift in how we treat patients? In our first official episode, we go straight to the source. We sit down with Josep Antoni Quiroga, a psychiatrist, the Head of the Psychiatry Unit at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, and the Co-Director of the Master's in Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is the architect of the environment where we are currently studying, and as a Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) with a PhD, he offers a unique dual perspective: that of a clinician treating patients daily, and that of an academic shaping the next generation of innovators. In this episode, we discuss: Innovation vs. Invention: Why the "Need" is the bedrock of success. The "Quintuple Aim": Moving beyond cost and outcomes to include equity and provider well-being. The Future of Mental Health: Digital phenotyping and predictive care. Why Barcelona? The unique ecosystem of Vall d'Hebron. Advice for Clinicians: How to start innovating without quitting your job. About The Health Innovation Playground:Hosted by Yousef Ahmed (MD) and Tamila Ulan (Nurse), we bridge the gap between clinical reality and strategic innovation. Broadcasting from the heart of the Barcelona ecosystem at Vall d'Hebron, we share unfiltered conversations with the pioneers driving the future of medicine. Join the community: Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://healthinnovationplayground.substack.com/ Connect with Yousef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousef-h-ahmed-368b79103/ Connect with Tamila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamila-ulan/

    41 min

  10. 11/24/2025

    Welcome to the Playground | Episode 0

    Welcome to The Health Innovation Playground. In this introductory episode, your hosts Yousef Ahmed (MD) and Tamila Ulan (Nurse) break down exactly who we are, why we left our clinical jobs, and why we are launching this podcast from the heart of Barcelona. Innovation in healthcare often feels like two different worlds speaking different languages: the boardroom and the clinic. We are here to bridge that gap. Broadcasting from the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), we are documenting our journey through the Master's in Health Innovation, asking the questions you’re thinking but might be afraid to ask. In this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro: Meet the Doctor and the Nurse. (02:15) The "Sick Care" vs. "Health Care" revolution: Why reactive medicine is dying. (05:30) Why Barcelona? Exploring the unique ecosystem of Vall d'Hebron. (08:45) Our personal journeys: From the ER in Egypt and Spain to the innovation lab. (12:20) The Mission: Making health tech accessible, adventurous, and jargon-free. Whether you are a clinician frustrated by bad tech, a founder trying to crack adoption, or just curious about the future of medicine, this is your backstage pass. Join the playground: Substack: https://healthinnovationplayground.substack.com/ Connect with Yousef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousef-h-ahmed-368b79103/ Connect with Tamila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamila-ulan/

    17 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Health innovation isn't just about serious labs and complex jargon—it's about the messy, exciting process of building the future. Hosted by Yousef H. Ahmed an MD based in Barcelona, This is your space to explore the breakthroughs shaping medicine today. We meet with pioneers in Hospitals & Biotech —the Scientists, CEOs, and entrepreneurs— driving Healthcare transformation forward. The future of healthcare should be accessible, adventurous, and clear. Whether you're an industry professional or just curious about what's next, come join us.

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