Dr. Claudio Peña Soto, Dean of our Stomatology program, was selected by CONCYTEC to participate as a representative of Peru in the forum “Driving the Digital Transformation and Capacity Building of Remote Healthcare Systems: Best Practices within the APEC region”, organized by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Taipei, capital of Taiwan. The event aimed to compile the best practices in digital transformation and training for the development of remote healthcare systems.
“Experts from public administration, the private sector and the academic world were invited to this event to share experiences about digital transformation in health services; we saw how the integration of digital technologies and the harmonization of policies are the starting point to build a comprehensive remote healthcare system. In addition, the forum had a chapter dedicated to digital flows in Stomatology/Dentistry and how these are positively impacting clinical care”, indicates Dr. Peña.
The visit included various academic and cultural activities. During the first day, the group attended a series of talks on how different APEC countries have improved or adapted their practices, sharing lessons learned during the COVID crisis that was a trigger for healthcare systems to reformulate and modernize rapidly, relying on cutting-edge technologies. The goal, finally, is to improve the quality of clinical care services, such as physiological monitoring, and improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment through digital medical imaging and surgical navigation system in the APEC region. Likewise, examples were shown of how the gap in medical resources between urban and rural areas was reduced by carrying out telemedicine consultations and obtaining a digital prescription.
The delegation also visited the Advantech research center at Linkou Campus, a leading company in the digital health market that develops medical equipment with integrated systems (computers, monitors, streaming systems, power systems, tablets, etc.) in search of an intelligent health system.
On the second day, the group of academics and diplomats traveled to the city of Tainan, in the south of the island, where talks on digital transformation in Dentistry were held by senior researchers who shared their experiences and real case studies in those where cutting-edge technologies have been applied.
“This was a day led by women academics and researchers from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia, who shared their clinical experiences and the research they lead. In addition, we analyzed how to implement the digital transition in Dentistry that allows technologies to be installed in daily clinical practice,” adds Dr. Peña.
A visit to the Tainan Science Park (TBC) – ARIX CNC Machines research center was also included. Participants were able to see live 3D and 4D printers, design software and other digital solutions in the field of Dentistry. Finally, Dr. Peña was invited by the Taiwanese Dental Association of Sciences and Technology to participate in the 46th edition of its International Congress where experiences of the state of the art in Dentistry and the dental industry were shared, thus strengthening academic and commercial relations with Taiwan.
“The digital era has come to stay definitively among us and is manifested through a true technological revolution that is clearly and profoundly transforming the habits, language, our work, the lives and customs of many people to create a new work methodology: The digital flow. In recent years, the digital flow in Dentistry has increased its field of action using innovative technologies. Therefore, an implementation plan for these new technologies in clinical care is important to be able to assume these changes naturally and with a scientific basis. This APEC Forum has been an excellent opportunity to share experiences, broaden our minds and see how public policies agreed upon with academia and private companies are the best way to lead change” concludes Dr. Peña.
The outstanding participation of our dean as representative of Peru not only fills us with pride, but also significantly strengthens his experience and learning in the international arena. This achievement reflects our institution's commitment to academic excellence. We are excited about future successes that will surely continue to enrich our educational community.