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Could you tell us about MettaHealth Partners and your role there?

MettaHealth Partners is a consulting firm I founded, inspired by the Buddhist term "Metta," meaning loving kindness and goodwill. We bring that same spirit to our work which focuses on digital transformation in health, especially working with public sector and social service organizations to modernize data and AI infrastructure. As the founder and CEO, my role is to bridge the human and technical aspects, helping build trust, governance, and capacity so innovation reflects compassion and purpose in all our work and partnerships.

How did MettaHealth Partners become involved with CHAI?

I was very excited when CHAI formed. I’ve seen the power of public-private collaboration to solve complex challenges like AI in healthcare. Many organizations we support, such as state medicaid agencies and social service networks, want to explore AI but often lack frameworks and knowledge to feel confident they are doing it responsibly. CHAI is a great opportunity to bridge that gap—sharing lessons and learning from others about scaling AI responsibly for the benefit of all people.

Where do you see the most potential for AI in healthcare?

I hope to see AI bring more joy to healthcare workers by reducing administrative burdens like paperwork, especially for those using older systems and facing high reporting demands. With workforce shortages, even small relief from AI can restore purpose and human connection at work. Beyond efficiency, I’m excited about the creative possibilities—humans are incredibly imaginative, some of the most meaningful AI innovations in healthcare haven’t even been dreamed up yet.

How does MettaHealth Partners involve clinical teams, researchers, and patient advocates to ensure trust, transparency, and safety in AI development and deployment?

Technology is evolving faster than most organizations can keep up. At MettaHealth Partners, we emphasize diverse teams to co-create shared principles, identify pain points, and deploy responsible AI systems. Drawing from frameworks like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, we prioritize continuous risk monitoring, bias mitigation, and ensuring technology serves all humans.

How do you see CHAI’s resources helping accelerate responsible AI adoption?

CHAI is invaluable because technology evolves so rapidly that even specialists learn new things by the hour. CHAI provides a collaborative forum with practical guidance, shared language, and actionable steps for organizations at any stage of adoption. Most importantly, CHAI creates a trusted space to learn together, making responsible AI adoption an integral part of everyday digital transformation during a time of uncertainty for many organizations.

Are there areas where you’d like to see CHAI expand its contributions?

I’d like to see CHAI place more emphasis on providers who were excluded from the HITECH incentives under the 2008 economic stimulus bill—such as behavioral health, long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC), and social service organizations. These sectors have often lagged in technology adoption, yet they play a crucial role in prevention and addressing the root causes of health issues before patients reach the point of needing hospital care. I believe technology—and AI in particular—can make a transformative difference here. This is an enormous opportunity to bring these providers into the fold and strengthen the overall health and well-being ecosystem.

Also, as AI sparks a cultural revolution alongside a tech one, I hope to see CHAI continue to help support technologists and providers design and adopt systems grounded in trust, compassion, and human dignity.

Shifting gears a bit, what are your thoughts on the challenges of change management and upskilling workers to integrate AI?

It’s a huge challenge. I’m currently pursuing an executive MBA at Booth and I hear from my peers leading AI transformations in various sectors that many organizations are still figuring it out. Curiosity and a willingness to learn are critical. A striking fact is that 80% of organizations report “shadow AI” use—technology adoption without formal approval—which is unprecedented. Staying informed and leveraging CHAI resources are essential for navigating these challenges responsibly and upskilling the healthcare workforce.

What excites you most about Metta Health Partners’ involvement with CHAI and your outlook on health AI in the next few years?

I’m grateful to be part of CHAI, where conversations about complex system and policy issues are rich and practical. CHAI is a forum for real-time learning and helping differentiate hype from reality. I’m excited to keep learning, collaborating, and contributing to AI solutions that serve mission-driven health organizations responsibly.