Wendy Sue Swanson, M.D., M.B.E.

As technology infuses the health space, we must examine the opportunities of novel innovation on improving wellbeing, health care, and the experience of both prevention and treatment of disease. From chatbots, AI software, social media, and digital health to cancer screening, mental health, and the toll of the “diseases of despair,” Dr. Swanson will explore the challenges at the confluence of rapid, technologic innovation and health. Some things are changing and some things must not. As our lives are inevitably altered by things like ChatGPT, we can guide what health care becomes. Audiences will walk away with a deeper understanding of how and why technology and innovation outpace the velocity of change in health care delivery. They will gain insight into how to effectively embrace new technologies to enhance their ability to serve their communities; be prompted to consider the ethical implications of integrating novel technologies like AI into health care delivery; and learn strategies for problem-solving amidst the ongoing "infodemic" sowing seeds of misinformation and distrust. Dr. Swanson will explore what matters most with today’s challenges for humans (prevention of disease, violence, isolation, cancer, heart disease, mental health, costs in health care, etc) as technology transforms the way we live our lives. She’ll discuss where technology cannot encroach on care and provide a way forward to improve your approach with examples to peak curiosity and solution-making.

As a physician who has practiced through medicine's digital revolution, an innovator who has pioneered digital health solutions, a bioethicist navigating emerging frontiers, and a nationally recognized health communicator and advocate, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson brings a unique perspective to healthcare's most pivotal transition.

In this compelling keynote, Dr. Swanson maps the journey from 1995's first online health resources through social media's reshaping of health communications, the 2011 transformation of emergency preparedness, the pandemic challenges and to today's AI-augmented medical practice. As an author and digital health expert, she illuminates how the fundamentals of medical practice have evolved as information, trust, and authority have been revolutionized by digital transformation.

Drawing from her experiences as both clinician and entrepreneur at the intersection of practice and innovation, this talk charts the course for healthcare leaders navigating an unprecedented era. From the early days of WebMD to today's AI-driven platforms, Dr. Swanson examines how the practice of medicine has adapted, evolved, and sometimes struggled with each technological wave.

Join us for an exploration of how we can build novel solutions that reinforce trust while embracing innovation—creating healthcare systems that serve our communities more effectively, ethically, and equitably in this age of rapid transformation.

As a pediatrician, bioethicist, digital health pioneer, and startup founder, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson tackles this central concern shaping medicine's future. Drawing from her roles as Seattle Children's first Chief of Digital Innovation, Chief Medical Officer at Before Brands, and founder of a public health communications venture, she examines how AI is challenging traditional notions of medical care and trust.

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Dr. Swanson illuminates a critical tension: while healthcare maintains its cautious approach to change, at times patients and providers alike seek thoughtful restraint in AI deployment—united in prioritizing authentic human connection and safety over speed. She explores how this shared mindset reshapes medical decision-making, asking: Which aspects of healthcare welcome machines, and what parts should remain deeply human?

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Through her experience spanning clinical medicine, public health communication, and health innovation, she offers insights on harmonizing AI's transformative potential with healthcare's need for measured, ethical progress – creating a future that preserves the human essence in medicine while embracing meaningful innovation.

Throughout her pioneering career, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson has transformed the intersection of medicine, technology, and public impact. From pediatrician to digital pioneer, from clinician to startup chief medical officer, she embodies the evolving role of physician-leader in the modern era. In this inspiring keynote, she challenges medical leaders to expand their vision of what's possible in healthcare.

Drawing from her journey—which spans examining room wisdom to boardroom strategy, social media innovation to digital health transformation—Dr. Swanson illuminates how stepping beyond traditional boundaries can amplify our impact on health and well-being. Her path from treating individual patients to influencing millions through media, technology, and entrepreneurship serves as a blueprint for physicians seeking to multiply their impact.

This talk ignites the entrepreneurial spirit lurking within medical leaders, encouraging them to see opportunities where others see obstacles. Dr. Swanson shares how maintaining ethical commitments while embracing innovation can transform healthcare delivery, medical education, and public health communication.

Join us for a compelling exploration of how medical leaders can become architects of change, fostering a culture where clinicians are empowered to innovate, lead, and fundamentally reshape how we promote health and reduce suffering in our communities

Drawing from decades as a physician executive and digital health pioneer, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares both data-driven insights and powerful personal narratives that illuminate the unique path of women leaders in healthcare and technology. Through stories of challenge and triumph, she reveals how women can transform traditional obstacles into distinct advantages in medical leadership.

In this compelling keynote, Dr. Swanson unpacks the science of effective leadership while sharing hard-won wisdom about building authentic power. She explores how women can harness emerging technologies like AI while staying true to their values, how to create lasting change through strategic visibility, and how to build communities that amplify impact.

From navigating boardrooms to building digital health initiatives, Dr. Swanson offers practical strategies for developing what she calls "the leadership fingerprint" – that unique combination of bravery, authenticity, and poise that distinguishes transformational leaders. She demonstrates how women can leverage their distinctive strengths to build trust, drive innovation, and reshape healthcare's future.

This isn't just about surviving in medicine and tech – it's about thriving and creating a legacy that empowers the next generation of women leaders.