Boost Digital Health Leadership Skills with Expert Guidance

Applications have opened for the 2026 Digital Health Networks Mentoring Programme which offers support for the next generation of digital health leaders.

The scheme is designed for those at the start of their leadership journey or newly appointed to senior roles, offering guidance, peer learning, and inspiration from those already leading the way.

Emerging digital leaders are paired with senior NHS chief clinical information officers (CCIOs), chief information officers (CIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs) and clinical sfaety officers (CSOs) to share experience, insight and encouragement.

Amy Freeman, chief digital information officer (CDIO) at University Hospitals of North Midlands and chair of the Digital Health Networks CIO Advisory Panel (CIO AP), was a mentor in the 2025 programme, and three of her four mentees have since been elected to the panel which she chairs.

She told Digital Health News that many people suffer from “imposter syndrome” which can make them questions their abilities.

“I think building confidence is about exploring why they would not want to do something and then work out whether that’s real or whether it’s just in the head.

“Sometimes people forget how much knowledge they’ve got.

“They’ve been such an amazing group this year and really put themselves out of their comfort zone and pushed themselves,” Freeman said.

Freeman’s mentees, Kathryn Kaboutian, deputy CDIO at North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, and Louise Williams, deputy CDIO at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, are both now on the CIO AP.

Kaboutian told Digital Health News that the 2025 mentoring programme was “a transformative experience” which provided “a supportive space to connect with peers, share challenges, and grow professionally”.

“The encouragement I received through the programme played a key role in helping me shape my leadership journey and ultimately supported me to gain the confidence to put myself forward and be successfully voted as a member of the CIO AP.

“It’s a brilliant initiative and I recommend any future aspiring digital leaders to give it go – you won’t be disappointed, as the quality of the mentors is phenomenal.

“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the role of mentor myself and supporting others on their journey,” she said.

Williams said that the mentoring monthly group sessions were “super supportive”.

“They helped me realise that we all face similar challenges in our roles and being open and sharing ideas and experiences is a great way to assist each other in working through these.

“I had spotted and was tentatively considering applying for the CIO AP, but once we had discussed the positive value of this in the group, I was really motivated to be involved and am now so pleased that I took that leap.”

In 2025 the programme was expanded to include mentors provided by alumni of the Digital Health Leadership Programme run by Imperial College London and mentors from the CSO Council, which launched in August 2024.