Call for papers - Humanization of healthcare in the era of AI

Guest Editors

Maurice Mulvenna, BSc (Hons), PgCert, MPhil, PhD, FHEA, SMACM, Ulster University, UK
John Martin O’Donoghue, BSc, MSc, PhD, University College Cork, Ireland

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 31 July 2025

BMC Digital Health is calling for submissions to our Collection, Humanization of healthcare in the era of AI. This Collection seeks to gather innovative research on the humanization of healthcare in the era of AI, exploring the impact of AI on patient experiences, personalized medicine, and patient engagement. We invite submissions that investigate the intersection of digital health technologies, AI-driven diagnostics, and human-centered design in healthcare innovation, with the aim of fostering a balanced approach that prioritizes the human touch in medicine alongside technological advancements.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Maurice Mulvenna, BSc (Hons), PgCert, MPhil, PhD, FHEA, SMACM, Ulster University, UK

Professor Maurice Mulvenna, PhD, is a researcher in computer science and artificial intelligence at Ulster University, known for his contribution to interdisciplinary research in AI and mental health sciences. Since 1994, he has led on more than 120 research projects with total funding of £70M and has published over 450 peer-reviewed papers. Maurice currently serves on editorial boards for BMC Digital Health, npj Mental Health Research, and several other journals.

John Martin O’Donoghue, BSc, MSc, PhD, University College Cork, Ireland

Dr John O’Donoghue is an expert in mHealth and eHealth, focusing on both developed and developing countries. With a background in software engineering, Dr O’Donoghue leverages digital technology to transform global healthcare. His research includes implementing and evaluating mobile health solutions and electronic health systems to enhance patient care and streamline services. As a health informatics specialist, Dr O’Donoghue analyses complex data to support evidence-based practices and policy development. His work spans developing accessible health apps, integrating AI, diagnostics, and promoting digital health literacy, aiming to bridge the technological divide and improve healthcare equity worldwide.

About the Collection

BMC Digital Health is calling for submissions to our Collection, Humanization of healthcare in the era of AI.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare setting has brought about significant changes in the delivery of care, patient experiences, and the overall healthcare landscape. The integration of digital health technologies and AI-driven diagnostics has the potential to revolutionize client and patient-centered care, personalized medicine, and client and patient engagement. However, as AI becomes increasingly prevalent in healthcare, there is a growing need to ensure that the human touch in medicine is not overshadowed by technological advancements. This Collection aims to explore the humanization of healthcare in the era of AI, examining the impact of AI on client and patient experiences, the role of human-centered design in healthcare innovation, and the social implications of AI in healthcare.

Recent advances have demonstrated the potential of AI in enhancing client and patient empowerment, virtual health assistants, and personalized care. Moreover, research has highlighted the significance of trust in AI and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in healthcare, emphasizing the need for human-centered approaches to AI integration.

It is important for us to continue advancing our collective understanding in this area to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare and technology. Thus, we invite contributions that examine a wide range of topics relating to the humanization of healthcare in the era of AI, including but not limited to:

Human-centered design in healthcare innovation
Humanization of healthcare
Client and patient-centered care
AI in healthcare
Client and patient experience
Trust in AI
Ethical considerations in AI integration
Social implications of AI in healthcare

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Humanization of healthcare in the era of AI" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.