“Few speakers are better qualified in terms of both medicine and being in remote places than Dr Bernard Harris Jr. – the first African-American to walk in space and a man who has flown more than seven million miles as a NASA astronaut,” said Jeremy Bonfini, HIMSS Senior Vice President, Global Services

Dr Harris, a member of the American College of Physicians and a holder of a master’s degree in biomedical science, was selected by NASA to train as an astronaut in 1990. As a member of the crew of Spacelab, he conducted research into physical and life sciences.

In 1995, he was payload commander on the first flight of the new joint Russian-American Space Programme which included a rendezvous with the Russian Space Station Mir.

Dr Harris President-Elect, American Telemedicine Association and CEO, Vesalius Ventures, will talk about the potential of mHealth (mobile health) to support the delivery of medical and public health through the use of mobile devices and its particular relevance for the delivery of health care to remote locations.

The panel session will highlight the potential applications in the Middle East, whether it is in desert conditions or offshore locations in the oil and gas industry.