LHS-ARISE
UNILUUniversity of Lucerne
LHS-ARISE
Learning Health Systems – Ageing, Rehabilitation, Innovation, Systems, Engagement
LHS-ARISE is a foundational course designed to empower professionals and decision-makers with system-level knowledge and skills to support the application of learning health systems strategies for strengthening rehabilitation services to support healthy ageing.
This course integrates concepts from Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR), Learning Health Systems (LHS) and Functioning-based Rehabilitation to build a responsive, inclusive and adaptive health system.
Course Structure
Seven modules — five mandatory and two elective — each building on the last, from health policy foundations through to applied implementation science.
Learning Outcomes
- Use HPSR and LHS approaches to analyze and strengthen rehabilitation systems.
- Apply the ICF and functioning-based assessment in rehabilitation services.
- Engage older adults and caregivers in meaningful and participatory care processes.
- Create effective policy briefs and conduct stakeholder dialogues.
- Describe the economic impact of ageing.
- Describe the role and value of implementation science in facilitating implementation efforts to support healthy ageing.
Instructors
Dr. Touhami is a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the American University of Beirut and both a Master's and PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Lucerne. Her work focuses on strengthening health systems and informing evidence-based health policy, with particular interest in improving access to care and health outcomes in diverse settings. Dr. Touhami has contributed to various initiatives enhancing health systems in both high- and low-resource settings and is involved in interdisciplinary projects addressing global health challenges.
Dr. Maritz holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Lucerne and is the Coordinator of the Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems at the University of Lucerne. Originally trained as an occupational therapist, she has a wide range of practical experience working with persons with a disability. Moreover, her research focuses on the standardization of functioning information in the field of rehabilitation.
Dr. Polanco is a postdoctoral researcher, researching rehabilitation and healthy ageing at the University of Lucerne and Swiss Paraplegic Research since November 2021. He holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Lucerne, a Master's degree in Statistics from the University of Bern (2018) and a Bachelor's from the National Polytechnic School in Quito, Ecuador (2015). Boris has expertise in probability theory, statistics, financial mathematics, and actuarial science. He previously worked as an actuarial analyst at the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security (IESS), developing models for critical illness analysis. His research interests include health economics, actuarial risk theory, and statistics.