Enrico Coiera, M.D., Ph.D Closed Now

Professor Enrico Coiera is one of the world’s foremost experts in health informatics, clinical decision support, and digital health systems. He currently serves as the Director of the Centre for Health Informatics at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, where his research focuses on the safe and effective use of digital technologies in healthcare.

Trained as both a physician and a computer scientist, Dr. Coiera has spent over three decades advancing the science of how information technologies can transform medical decision-making, healthcare quality, and patient safety. His early work on clinical communication and decision support laid the groundwork for today’s modern electronic health record (EHR) systems and intelligent digital health platforms.

He is best known for his contributions to clinical decision support systems (CDSS), where he has developed methods to integrate real-time patient data with knowledge bases to guide clinicians toward safer, evidence-based decisions. Dr. Coiera has also led significant research into the unintended consequences of digital systems, including errors, alert fatigue, and workflow disruptions, helping shape policies and practices for safe digital adoption in healthcare.

At Macquarie University, his team works on AI-driven health systems, predictive analytics, and advanced safety informatics to improve care quality while minimizing harm. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles and authored the influential textbook Guide to Health Informatics, considered essential reading for students and professionals in the field.

Dr. Coiera is widely respected not only for his technical contributions but also for his balanced, pragmatic approach to digital health adoption. He emphasizes the importance of human factors, system design, and safety frameworks in realizing the benefits of digital transformation. His research continues to influence healthcare systems, policymakers, and technology developers worldwide.