DigitalHealthPartnership

DigitalHealthPartnership

The Digital Health Partnership Team

Our DHP Leadership

Hasso Plattner Institute, Digital Health Cluster:

Hasso Plattner Institute, Digital Health Cluster:

Hasso Plattner Institute, Digital Health Cluster:

Lothar H. Wieler

Co-director of the Partnership, Chair – Digital Global Public Health, Coordinator DHC

Dr. Lothar H. Wieler is Professor for Global Public Health at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) at University of Potsdam and Coordinator of the Digital Health Cluster (DHC) at HPI. He also is Adjunct Faculty at Hasso-Plattner-Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai (HPI·MS).
Dr. Wieler has authored more than 300 publications, focusing on molecular pathogenesis, evolution and surveillance of zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria with epidemic and pandemic potential. During the COVID-19 pandemic he advised the German government, being president of the Robert Koch-Institute. His goal is to reduce disease burden through prevention and reduction of health inequalities by promoting digital public health, at local, national and international level.

Esther-Maria Antao

Partnership Lead, DHC

Esther-Maria Antao is a microbiologist with expertise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Her early postdoctoral work promoted the rational use of antimicrobials through innovative communication strategies, forming the basis for her broader focus on risk communication and public trust.
At the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), she advanced her skills in public health and crisis communication during COVID-19, contributing to evidence-based messaging for policy and public engagement. Now at HPI’s Chair of Digital Global Public Health, her research and teaching lies at the intersection of public health communication, digital health and ethics. In partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital, she aims to leverage AI and advanced technologies for EHR research to better understand rare diseases such as Fragile X Syndrome. Since August 2024, she is Partnership Lead of the transatlantic Digital Health Partnership.

Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health Mount Sinai, Windreich Department of AI and Human Health:

Girish N. Nadkarni

Co-director of the Partnership, Chair – Department of AIHH

Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni is the Fishberg Professor of Medicine & Chair of the Windreich Department of AI & Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health & the Inaugural Chief AI Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.
A leader in AI-driven research in cardiovascular & kidney care, he has authored more than 400 publications, holds numerous patents, & co-invented the first FDA-cleared AI-bioprognostic for kidney disease.

Alexander W. Charney

Director, The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine

Dr. Alexander Charney is a physician-scientist & academic leader at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, holding professorships in AI, Psychiatry, Genetics, & Genomic Sciences.
He is the Vice Chair of the Windreich Department of AI & Human Health. He leads major research & institutional initiatives in mental health, personalized medicine, & digital health, including the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program & the Living Brain Project. His work advances understanding of complex diseases like schizophrenia through genomics & AI, while also mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists.

 Data4Life:

Dr. Ben Illigens

MD, MBI, CEO, Data4Life

Dr. Ben Illigens is a neuroscientist (MD) with more than 15 years of international experience at the intersection of medicine, technology, and global health. He has held senior leadership roles in clinical research, data science, and digital health, and is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications. At Data4Life, Ben’s focus is on advancing interoperable platforms, precision medicine, and global health research through innovation and collaboration.

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Sebastian Woinar

Co-CTO, Data4Life

Sebastian Woinar is a technology leader with a strong focus on making health data available for research and patient care. As Co-CTO and Managing Director at the non-profit organization Data4Life, he helps shape digital health products that integrate privacy, usability, and generate real-world impact.
He’s particularly interested in the intersection of software and hardware, working with wearable and lab-grade sensor devices to unlock new possibilities for evidence-based research and patient care. With a background in engineering and leadership roles at SAP and Hasso Plattner Institute, Sebastian combines hands-on technical know-how with a clear sense for product and team development.

Sebastian Woinar

Co-CTO, D4L

Sebastian Woinar is a technology leader with a strong focus on making health data available for research and patient care. As Co-CTO and Managing Director at the non-profit organization Data4Life, he helps shape digital health products that integrate privacy, usability, and generate real-world impact.
He’s particularly interested in the intersection of software and hardware, working with wearable and lab-grade sensor devices to unlock new possibilities for evidence-based research and patient care. With a background in engineering and leadership roles at SAP and Hasso Plattner Institute, Sebastian combines hands-on technical know-how with a clear sense for product and team development.

Girish N. Nadkarni

MD MPH at Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni is the Fishberg Professor of Medicine & Chair of the Windreich Department of AI & Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health & the Inaugural Chief AI Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.
A leader in AI-driven research in cardiovascular & kidney care, he has authored more than 400 publications, holds numerous patents, & co-invented the first FDA-cleared AI-bioprognostic for kidney disease.

Team members list:

D4L team:

AIRMS part of team:

Andrew Deonarine

Senior IT Director and Principal Physician Informaticist

Originally from Canada, Dr. Deonarine completed a Bachelor of Science honors (BScH) and Master of Science (MSc), followed by his MD at the University of Toronto, where he researched structural bioinformatics, clinical decision support, and software-based clinical communication tools. He completed specialist training in public health and preventive medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), along with a Master of Health Science (UBC) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in bioinformatics at the University of Cambridge through the Clinician Investigator (MD\/PhD) Program. More recently, Andrew completed sub-specialty training in clinical informatics at Harvard Medical School as a Friedman Scholar and has worked in primary care as an Informatics Lead, as well as co-leading healthcare AI initiatives for the city of Boston. At Mt. Sinai, he hopes to leverage AI to support groundbreaking research and improve equitable clinical care in New York and at the national level.

Andrew Deonarine

Senior IT Director and Principal Physician Informaticist

Originally from Canada, Dr. Deonarine completed a Bachelor of Science honors (BScH) and Master of Science (MSc), followed by his MD at the University of Toronto, where he researched structural bioinformatics, clinical decision support, and software-based clinical communication tools. He completed specialist training in public health and preventive medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), along with a Master of Health Science (UBC) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in bioinformatics at the University of Cambridge through the Clinician Investigator (MD\/PhD) Program. More recently, Andrew completed sub-specialty training in clinical informatics at Harvard Medical School as a Friedman Scholar and has worked in primary care as an Informatics Lead, as well as co-leading healthcare AI initiatives for the city of Boston. At Mt. Sinai, he hopes to leverage AI to support groundbreaking research and improve equitable clinical care in New York and at the national level.

Patricia Kovatch

Dean for Scientific Computing and Data & Professor

Patricia Kovatch joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as the founding Dean for Scientific Computing and Data in 2011. She is a tenured Professor in the Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences.\r\n\r\nHer arrival at Mount Sinai immediately elevated the institution’s computational and data ecosystem to a level beyond what most medical centers could imagine. These new data analytic capabilities helped Mount Sinai to usher in an era of precision medicine, bringing Mount Sinai recognition from the NY Times, Wired and Fast Company. Dean Kovatch and her multi-disciplinary team of experts at the intersection of technology, biomedical science and medicine have enabled multi-scale, AI-powered science through close collaborations with researchers and clinicians across the Mount Sinai Health System. These partnerships support nearly $300 million in NIH-funded computational and data science research per year, resulting in over 2,300 publications over the last 12 years.\r\n\r\nAs a Principal Investigator (PI), Dean Kovatch has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2014. She has received multiple NIH equipment awards from the Office of the Director for high-performance computing and data infrastructure that have accelerated research and discovery and reduced cost for Mount Sinai. She was awarded a training grant from the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering for the Community Research Education and Engagement for Data Science. She is also the PI and Director for the Data Repository and Management Core for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource.\r\n\r\nBefore coming to Mount Sinai, Dean Kovatch previously served as the director of an institute for computational science for the National Science Foundation at a Department of Energy national laboratory. This institute deployed the third fastest supercomputer in the world in 2009.

Lewis Lo

IT Manager

Patricia Kovatch joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as the founding Dean for Scientific Computing and Data in 2011. She is a tenured Professor in the Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences.\r\n\r\nHer arrival at Mount Sinai immediately elevated the institution’s computational and data ecosystem to a level beyond what most medical centers could imagine. These new data analytic capabilities helped Mount Sinai to usher in an era of precision medicine, bringing Mount Sinai recognition from the NY Times, Wired and Fast Company. Dean Kovatch and her multi-disciplinary team of experts at the intersection of technology, biomedical science and medicine have enabled multi-scale, AI-powered science through close collaborations with researchers and clinicians across the Mount Sinai Health System. These partnerships support nearly $300 million in NIH-funded computational and data science research per year, resulting in over 2,300 publications over the last 12 years.\r\n\r\nAs a Principal Investigator (PI), Dean Kovatch has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2014. She has received multiple NIH equipment awards from the Office of the Director for high-performance computing and data infrastructure that have accelerated research and discovery and reduced cost for Mount Sinai. She was awarded a training grant from the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering for the Community Research Education and Engagement for Data Science. She is also the PI and Director for the Data Repository and Management Core for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource.\r\n\r\nBefore coming to Mount Sinai, Dean Kovatch previously served as the director of an institute for computational science for the National Science Foundation at a Department of Energy national laboratory. This institute deployed the third fastest supercomputer in the world in 2009.

Message from Hasso Plattner Foundation

"The Digital Health Partnership between the Hasso Plattner Institute, Data4Life, and the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai continues to evolve as a flagship collaboration at the intersection of science, technology, and global health."

This transatlantic alliance brings together clinicians, computer scientists, and developers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, from precision medicine to public health, through data-driven innovation and interdisciplinary research. At its core, the partnership is designed to foster scientific and academic exchange, accelerate the responsible use of health data, and develop scalable digital solutions that improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With strong institutional backing and a shared vision for data-driven insights, this collaboration is not only advancing research excellence but also setting new standards for how digital health can be shaped responsibly and inclusively. We are proud to support this partnership and extend our heartfelt thanks to all involved researchers, clinicians, engineers, and coordinators. Your dedication and vision have made this partnership a success and your contributions continue to inspire and drive progress across our ecosystem.

Moritz Matthey

Head of Program Management at Hasso Plattner Foundation

"In launching the Digital Health Partnership (DHP), we’ve embraced a bold opportunity to re-imagine how international collaboration can accelerate innovation, reshape health systems, and improve lives."

As Chairs and Directors, we see this partnership not just as a structure for shared projects, but as a living community of people who believe that data science, clinical insight, and human-centered design must work together to solve real-world challenges in healthcare. The success of the DHP will be measured not only by technological breakthroughs, but by our ability to cultivate trust across institutions, translate research into action, and include diverse perspectives in shaping the future of digital health. We are committed to creating a culture where collaboration is the default, and where shared values guide scientific progress. We’re excited by the momentum already underway, and deeply grateful to each of you – researchers, clinicians, engineers, students, and partners – for contributing your expertise and creativity to this mission. We know the road ahead will require curiosity, humility, and bold thinking, and we’re honored to take the next steps together.

Girish N. Nadkarni

MD, MPH, Mount Sinai

Alexander W. Charney

MD, PhD, Mount Sinai

"The Digital Health Partnership between the Hasso Plattner Institute, Data4Life, and the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai continues to evolve as a flagship collaboration at the intersection of science, technology, and global health."

This transatlantic alliance brings together clinicians, computer scientists, and developers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, from precision medicine to public health, through data-driven innovation and interdisciplinary research. At its core, the partnership is designed to foster scientific and academic exchange, accelerate the responsible use of health data, and develop scalable digital solutions that improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With strong institutional backing and a shared vision for data-driven insights, this collaboration is not only advancing research excellence but also setting new standards for how digital health can be shaped responsibly and inclusively. We are proud to support this partnership and extend our heartfelt thanks to all involved researchers, clinicians, engineers, and coordinators. Your dedication and vision have made this partnership a success and your contributions continue to inspire and drive progress across our ecosystem.

Moritz Matthey

Head of Program Management at Hasso Plattner Foundation

Formed in 2019 between HPI and Mount Sinai, this partnership led to the foundation of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai. As of April 1st, 2024, the partnership entered a new funding phase and is now branded under the name Digital Health Partnership.

The Transatlantic Collaboration Fund—granted by the Hasso Plattner Foundation—supports:

  • The Digital Health Graduate School
  • Joint research projects
  • Housing and operational expenses

Supported by Data4Life and the Hasso Plattner Foundation (HPF), this partnership enhances the technical capacity of research tools like AIR:MS.

The Partners

Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai (HPI-MS)

This institute is a collaboration between the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Founded in 2019, HPI-MS combines data science, biomedical and digital engineering, and medical expertise to realize the promise of digital health. Its mission is to drive innovation that will revolutionize how people understand personal health and healthcare systems.

HPI-MS receives generous support from the Hasso Plattner Foundation. Current research programs include the Digital Discovery Program and the AI-Ready Mount Sinai platform, focusing on diagnosing and treating patients using machine learning.

Data4Life

Data4Life gGmbH is a nonprofit organization aiming to make health data readily available for medical research. They focus on public health and personalized medicine to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

They collaborate with major institutions like:

  • Charité in Berlin
  • Robert Koch Institute (Berlin)
  • Mount Sinai Health System (New York)
  • Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (Berlin)

They also contribute to the AIR:MS project (since 2019) by providing software engineering, data management, and interoperability services.

Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI)

The HPI is a leading academic center for digital engineering and innovation. Founded in 1999 by SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner, it offers unique bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs in IT systems engineering and digital health. HPI emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, blending design thinking, cybersecurity, health data management, and AI.

Central to HPI’s healthcare work is the Digital Health Cluster, which drives innovation by developing digital solutions to improve medical processes and patient outcomes. It fosters collaboration between IT experts, medical professionals, and researchers—solidifying HPI’s role as a global leader in digital health.

The cluster continues to broaden its focus by integrating healthcare and public health, taking a holistic, patient-centered, and data-driven approach. Its mission is to harness digital technologies to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

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