Kansas City is a key player in digital health innovation, leveraging our strong healthcare ecosystem, talented workforce, and investment opportunities. Christopher Wilson, JD, Executive Director of Digital Health Co/Lab and Senior Vice President of Business Development & Integration at The University of Kansas Health System, is at the forefront of this transformation. His work focuses on setting the enterprise’s strategic direction to ensure investments align with the mission to lead in teaching, healing, caring, and discovery. Digital health is a central part of this vision, helping to expand patient care beyond traditional models.
Digital solutions are critical in scaling care and integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Wilson sees significant opportunities in AI’s ability to enhance patient care while maintaining a human-centered approach. “There’s also a lot of really interesting development opportunities around the use of artificial intelligence, around how we can deploy those artificial intelligence tools in a way that’s effective, in a way that’s ethical, in a way that adds value, and also in a way that can be embedded or incorporated into that very personal connection that individuals have with their care providers,” he says.
For Kansas City to solidify its position as a leader in digital health, Wilson emphasizes the importance of attracting top talent and fostering business growth. “I think success for digital health in the region will have a lot to do with our ability to attract, recruit, and retain both talent and organizations big and small. I think our ability to continue to have people want to live and work in Kansas City in the digital health space, not only will help us grow the companies that start here, but also attract those that want to move operations here in some way, shape or form.” Through collaboration and innovation, Kansas City has the opportunity to shape the future of digital health on a regional, national, and even global scale.