Summary
Healthcare leaders from around the world are set to convene in Phoenix, Arizona, this December for the 2026 IHI Forum, where they will explore transformative ideas in women's health, technology, nursing, equity, creativity, and collaboration. The forum aims to foster relationships and generate actionable insights that participants can implement in their own practices.
In a recent discussion, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, a prominent figure in public health and digital health policy, emphasizes the critical role of technology in healthcare. She argues that while technology can enhance patient care and access, it must be applied thoughtfully to strengthen trust, equity, and safety. DeSalvo highlights the importance of viewing technology as a tool that empowers patients rather than merely serving healthcare providers. She calls for a shift in focus towards ensuring that digital health solutions address the needs of individuals in their daily lives and promote health equity across diverse populations.
DeSalvo also reflects on the lessons learned from her experiences in public health, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where the importance of community engagement and addressing social determinants of health became evident. She stresses that healthcare systems must recognize their role in the broader context of public health and collaborate with various sectors to create healthier communities. As AI technology continues to evolve, DeSalvo warns of the potential risks and emphasizes the need for clear guidelines and accountability to ensure its safe and effective integration into healthcare practices.
Show Notes
AI is rapidly transforming how people access health information, but its greatest value will depend on whether it strengthens, rather than replaces, trust, equity, and human connection.
In this episode, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, a physician, public health leader, and former Chief Health Officer at Google, explores what healthcare needs from technology now. She shares how digital tools can help people manage their health, reduce administrative burden for clinicians, improve access to information, and identify inequities in care. Technology is only as effective as the systems and people using it, she emphasizes. Drawing on her work in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, federal health IT policy, and public health, she explains why health systems must look beyond clinic walls by addressing social drivers of health, building trust through evidence-based communication, ensuring data interoperability, and strengthening AI safety standards.
Tune in to learn how healthcare leaders can use technology to make care more accessible, equitable, trustworthy, and human-centered.
About Karen DeSalvo:
Dr. Karen DeSalvo is a global health leader known for her work at the intersection of medicine, public health, and technology. As Google’s former Chief Health Officer, she led health professionals in using Google’s tools and technology to help people live longer, healthier lives. She also provided medical leadership for employee health and safety initiatives.
Before joining Google, Dr. DeSalvo served as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Acting Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. government. She was also Health Commissioner in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, where she helped lead the city’s public health recovery. Dr. DeSalvo has held academic leadership roles at Tulane University and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Welltower and on the Council of the National Academy of Medicine.
She holds an MD and MPH from Tulane University and a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Things You’ll Learn:
Digital health and AI should help people manage their health while supporting, not replacing, clinicians and care teams.
Healthcare leaders must use technology intentionally to improve equity, access, health literacy, and patient trust.
Trust is built through reliable, evidence-based communication, humility, and listening to communities over time.
Interoperable health data can improve quality, safety, and population health while enabling more responsible AI use.
AI can help address workforce shortages, burnout, and access challenges, but it requires strong safety standards and human oversight.
Resources:
Connect with Dr. Karen DeSalvo on LinkedIn
Follow Google on LinkedIn and explore their website
Learn more about the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Questions, ideas, or guest suggestions: [email protected]
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