Professor Theo Fotis is Professor of Digital Health & Innovation and Associate Dean (Research) in ECU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.
He provides strategic leadership to the School’s research agenda, advancing research excellence, capability, collaboration and impact. His internationally recognised research focuses on the co-production and evaluation of digital health and AI-enabled technologies through Living Lab approaches. His wider research interests include trustworthy AI, human factors in digital health, and healthcare cybersecurity.
Background
Before joining ECU, Theo was Reader (Associate Professor) at the University of Brighton, where he founded and directed the Digital Health Living Lab (2017–2026) and held senior roles in research, postgraduate education, ethics and academic governance.
His broader academic appointments include Visiting Professor of Nursing at the University of Ioannina, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, and visiting/teaching roles at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Open University and the University of Peloponnese. Earlier in his career, he served as an officer and registered nurse in the Hellenic Air Force, reaching the rank of Squadron Leader.
Professional Associations
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy (UK); Registered Nurse, Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK).
- Associate Editor, DIGITAL HEALTH (SAGE); Editorial Board Member, Journal of Clinical Nursing (Wiley).
- Columnist, Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing (Elsevier).
- Grant review/panel roles include NIHR i4i, European Health and Digital Executive Agency (Horizon), UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Peer Review College, EPSRC, Research Grants Council Hong Kong, and UKRI/Innovate UK.
- Member, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and TIGER International Task Force; Phi Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society of Nursing.
Awards and Recognition
- 2026 - University of Brighton Star Award, Education and Student Experience Best Team.
- 2025 - Best Paper Awards, AHFE International Conference, USA, for work on trustworthy AI and human factors in cybersecurity.
- 2024 - University of Brighton KEF Award for knowledge exchange and impact through the Digital Health Living Lab.
- 2019 - Digital Health Living Lab selected for the UK Made@Uni national campaign among 100+ university breakthroughs improving everyday life.
- 2018 - Named one of the Top 50 Healthcare IT Leaders in Europe by HIMSS Europe.
Research Areas and Interests
Methodologies
- Living Lab methodologies;
- co-production and co-design;
- mixed-methods and real-world evaluation of digital health interventions;
- human-centred technology assessment, usability and acceptance.
Topics
- Digital health;
- trustworthy/responsible AI and human factors;
- healthcare cybersecurity, privacy and digital resilience;
- wearables, sensors and IoT;
- care technologies and healthy ageing;
- digital workforce capability, education and healthcare innovation.