Emily Lewis is a trailblazing innovator and leader in the realm of digital health and AI. With nearly two decades of experience, she has made significant contributions to the development and adoption of cutting-edge digital health solutions. Her passion for using technology to improve patient outcomes and advance healthcare has earned her recognition as one of Fierce Healthcare’s Rising Stars in HealthTech.

Education and Early Career:

Emily’s journey in digital health began with her academic pursuits. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion from Appalachian State University and went on to earn a graduate certificate in Field Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree in Clinical Research and Regulatory Administration from Northwestern University. Her strong foundation in public health enabled her to blend technology and healthcare effectively.

Following her education, Emily gained valuable experience working in various clinical research settings, including academia, CROs, pharma, and start-ups. These experiences allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and the potential for digital health solutions to revolutionize patient care.

Cultivating relationships with key decision makers and industry leaders, Emily is an active participant and advocate in many initiatives that strive to increase the adoption of health IT, interoperability, access to health data, and patient engagement. In collaboration with other thought leaders, Emily has been instrumental in identifying ways to increase the adoption of digital tools which can improve patient care and reduce healthcare waste and decrease expenditure. 

As a thought leader, Emily has over 18k followers on LinkedIn and thrives on being a part of the most cutting edge conversations shaping the future of healthcare. She desires to break down silos and create a social movement to initiate meaningful, sustainable, systemic change for collective impact. Emily enjoys listening and learning from others in the field and believes that, together, we can achieve a future where the healthcare system works for everyone. 

Areas of Interest:

1. Artificial intelligence, Large Language Models (LLMs), Natural Language Processing (NLP)
2. Web3, blockchain, tokenomics, internet of value, internet of things
3. Novel digital biomarkers and digital measurement
4. Wearables, invisibles (radar), Robotics, drones, 3D printing
5. Augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality
6. Decentralized Science (DeSci), Edge and quantum computing

Areas of Influence and Notable Achievements:

Throughout her career, Emily has been instrumental in numerous groundbreaking projects, demonstrating her influence and impact on the digital health sector:

1. Decentralized Trials: Emily spearheaded the design and implementation of telemedicine in clinical research two years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Emily has been a strong advocate for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. She has played a crucial role in developing AI-driven tools for empowering patients to take control of their disease, communicate better with their clinicians, and ultimately achieve better outcomes. Emily has driven the field of clinical decision support and care coordination in developing novel digital biomarkers and building software as a medical device (SaMD) tools within neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Remote Patient Monitoring: Emily recognized the potential of wearable devices for remote patient monitoring and was integral in deploying a Virtual Motor Exam (VME) in Parkinson’s Disease patients within clinical development where patients completed active tasks within the comfort of their own home. PD patients used their smartwatch for both passive monitoring of vitals and steps as well as active tasks in lieu of a formal motor exam conducted by a neurologist. This seminal work, and its controversial regulatory interactions with a rejected Letter of Intent, has been cited ad nauseam in modern digital health circles.
4. Advocacy in Public Policy: Emily is a proponent of digital health policies that promote innovation, accessibility, and patient privacy. She has worked closely with regulatory bodies and industry leaders to create a conducive environment for digital health advancements to thrive.

Philanthropy and Mentorship:

Emily is a firm believer in giving back to the digital health community. She works closely with the Digital Medicine Society, a 501c3 dedicated to the advancement of the safe, effective, ethical, and equitable use of digital technologies to improve lives through research, education, and community building. She serves as a Fellow at Healthcare Innovation and Technology Lab (HITLAB), judging challenges, speaking at summits, and mentoring junior professionals through their early careers in digital health. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of female leaders and constantly looking for ways to highlight the achievements of women innovators, particularly within FemTech.

Supporting many strategic initiatives in change management and digital transformation, Emily has demonstrated a commitment to harnessing the power of emerging technology to positively transform health and healthcare. Her leadership and impact on the industry, advocacy for inclusive policies, and commitment to mentorship demonstrate her leadership and dedication to advancing digital health.