Anthony Duffy

School of Interactive Arts & Technology PhD student in the Faculty of Communication, Arts & Technology

I am a digital lifer who began my professional career in 2001 in Information Technology, working for companies such as Ogilvy and Aon in Toronto. In 2011, I began my university journey at Western University in London, ON., studying Media, Information & Tech., graduating with distinction. In 2018, I completed my Masters in Digital Media at the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver, an industry partnered programme overseen by UBC, SFU, BCIT and Emily Carr Universities. As a digital product designer, I have managed digital projects for Mercedes-Benz and Telus Digital in British Columbia. Most recently, I worked with a lifelong friend and designer to form our own digital agency, usul.design in Detroit. Currently, I’m enjoying being a Digital Health PhD student at SFU. In my spare time, I love fishing, visiting tea houses, and cycling the pacific shorelines of British Columbia.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

I was seeking an interdisciplinary research environment that valued both qualitative and quantitative research in the hybridised space that is digital health. I’ve always had an interest in healthcare intervention, coupled with my professional background in the digital world, I was able to find an inspiring and novel research focus. The quality and state of the art facilities at the School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT) campus at SFU Surrey further enriched my decision. I was fortunate to connect with the dynamic faculty and students at the Digital Health Circle lab at SIAT who shared similar passions about health and the digital world. Working under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Moreno, I am currently focused on improving the quality of digital health interventions by studying digital health design and user experience frameworks and methodologies. This research is pivotal towards improving the quality of health outcomes in digital interventions.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH AND/OR PROGRAM.

Digital Health is an emerging field at the intersection of the digital and healthcare world respectively. My research focuses on Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) at the centre of delivering health interventions moving into the mid 21st century. This includes mobile apps, wearables, telemedicine, and XR (augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technologies).

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

My research is sitting on the cutting edge of the emerging field of Digital Health. Being a rapidly growing field, the solutions we aspire for are novel, iterative and constantly responding to the exponential growth of technology. This puts us in a unique position to help shape the future of digital health interventions.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR FUNDED AWARDS?

I am the recipient of the Graduate Dean's Entrance Scholarship (GDES) at SFU. This award has given me more time to work with the Digital Health Circle, understanding the connection between the health industry in Canada and grassroots community connections. It has presented an intriguing look at the challenge to formulate successful digital health policy around patients and their unique challenges.

DESCRIBE YOUR PROGRAM FOR THOSE SEARCHING.

Working with the Digital Health Circle provides an amazing multidisciplinary approach to addressing digital health challenges. Our lab is composed of clinical, health and tech experts from a variety of backgrounds, providing different expertise to approach complex health issues. It is a challenging and innovative mindspace that is helping to shape the future of digital health technologies, interventions and outcomes. If you have a passion for how digital technologies can improve healthcare or how healthcare can improve digital technologies, this is the collaborative space for you.