NextBIG eHealth
Development Program
Building the Future of eHealth Together
NextBIG brings together the brightest Master’s students, PhD candidates, Post-Docs, and Young Professionals from STEM and medical fields to shape the next generation of eHealth innovators.
Our interdisciplinary event series connects you with interested peers and leading experts in AI and healthcare. This series will provide you with cutting-edge developments, foster groundbreaking ideas, and accelerate your career in digital healthcare and biomedical data science.
What is NextBIG?
- A competitive, fully-funded networking and education series
- Designed for students (M.Sc., M.D., Ph.D. or similar), researchers (Postdocs), and young professionals (<3 years of postgraduate experience) passionate about eHealth
- 4 in-person events in Berlin, Dresden and Essen, starting with a Kick-off at Charité from Nov 16, 2025 to Nov 18.
- 3 online, 2 hour webinars between in-person events
- Hosted by leading institutions in digital medicine: Charité Berlin, TU Dresden, and the University Hospital Essen
Why Join?
- Deep dive into the latest eHealth trends
- Network with top researchers and innovators from Germany, the E.U. and U.S.
- Explore career paths in academic research and industry
- Join a diverse, inclusive community passionate about shaping the future of eHealth
- Earn certificates of attendance for your participation
- Get inspired by international keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and one-on-one career coaching
- We’ve got you covered – travel and accommodation costs are fully funded for all selected participants.
Our Program:
Kick-off Meeting: Berlin, November 16-18, 2025 (in-person)
Webinar 1: Mar 26 (online)
Symposium: Essen, June 26 (in-person)
Webinar 2: Nov 2026 (online)
Winter School: Dresden, Mar 27 (hybrid format)
Webinar 3: Jul 27 (online)
Datathon: Essen, Oct 27 (in-person)
Virtual Webinars
Global experts discuss AI, Big Data, and the future of healthcare.
Please note: the program is set up as a seminar series with a fixed cohort. Therefore, upon successful selection, attendance of all events is mandatory.
Who Can Apply?
- Master’s students, PhD candidates, Postdocs, and early-career professionals
- Background in Medicine, Data Science, Informatics, Epidemiology, Public Health, or related fields
- Strong motivation to innovate in eHealth
- Women, first-generation academics, and individuals from diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply!
Meet Our Team
Led by experts from Charité Berlin, TU Dresden, and University Hospital Essen, including top researchers in AI, clinical data science, and medical informatics.
Dr. med.
Christopher M. Sauer, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Resident Hematology & Oncology, Junior PI
University Hospital Essen
Prof. Dr. med.
Jakob Kather
Professor for Clinical Artificial Intelligence
EKFZ Digital Health Dresden
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat.
Felix Balzer
Professor of Medical Data Science & Chief Medical Information Officer (IMI & CMIO)
Dr. med.
Isabella Wiest
Junior PI
EKFZ Digital Health Dresden
Gernot Pucher, M.Sc.
PhD Student
University Hospital Essen
Louis Agha-Mir-Salim, BMBS
Physician in Training for the Additional Qualification in Medical Informatics (IMI | CMIO)
Charité Berlin
Zoe Kaiser
Student Assistant
Charité Berlin
Powered by:
- Universitätsmedizin Essen – Institute for AI in Medicine
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Institute for Medical Informatics
- TU Dresden – Else Kröner Fresenius Center (EKFZ)
Conditions of participation
- Participation in all core events is mandatory. This includes travel to at least three in-person meetings (Kick-off, Symposium, Datathon) and active online participation in webinars and hybrid sessions.
- Participants are expected to attend a minimum of 85% of the scheduled time across the series to receive certification and ECTS accreditation.
- There is no course fee. Accommodation and travel expenses for mandatory events are covered by the program.
- Events are held in English.
- A high level of commitment is required, as participation is limited and spots are highly competitive.
- Participants must have stable internet access and appropriate equipment (camera/microphone) for virtual events.
Due to the limited number of places available, acceptance into the NextBIG program requires a binding commitment to actively participate in all core events, including both in-person and virtual sessions. Selected participants are expected to attend the full series to ensure continuity, engagement, and optimal use of the program’s offerings.
Are you ready to be part of the NextBIG thing in eHealth?
Please apply via our online application portal.
The application deadline is June 30, 2025, 23:59 CET.
Questions
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