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/