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Dr. Aziz Sheikh, Co-Director of the Centre for Medical Informatics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, describes current electronic health records (EHRs) and related digital functionality infrastructure in the UK. He discusses opportunities for using digitized data in the form of EHRs and health datasets in population health research, including the formulation and evaluation of public health policies. Dr. Shekih also examines possible implications of incorporating informatics in the education of health professionals and health care practice.