Wendy Sue Swanson, M.D.

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, COVID, 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.

All parents want to do what’s right, yet many parents find that defining what’s right can sometimes be elusive. Dr. Swanson helps decipher today’s conflicting medical opinions, offers helpful online resources, and shares what she’s learned over many years from her patients, friends and family in this enlightening talk on parenting. Stories can trump data in parent decision-making, but Dr. Swanson uses narrative and stores to bring science into focus. Topics span issues such as: safety and prevention, social/emotional support, immunisations and the ever-elusive, work-life balance.

Dr. Swanson has been an advocate & champion for immunizations and vaccines the better part of her career. She most recently presented at the 2015 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) flu season press conference in Washington, DC. She was a sought after source of information and knowledge during the 2015 measles outbreak. She speaks internationally on vaccine-hesitancy, vaccine science & safety, and the role of smart storytelling in building trust in the immunization schedule. She has presented throughout the U.S. to health care workers and public advocates about new approaches. Nearly 95% of parents consult their “people network” when making decisions on vaccines. Dr. Swanson will highlight topics like: cocooning infants, using social media tools & text messaging to spur uptake in vaccines, vaccine schedules and debunking vaccine myths.

Social tools, widespread use of smartphones, and savvy entrepreneurs are changing health care forever. It's a new time when it comes to seeking advice about your health. While widespread social media and evolving online networks change access to information for patients and their families, they also dramatically shift physician and provider responsibilities. Improved communication is the future of smarter healthcare. With the changes emerging technologies have presented to everyday life, clinicians must problem-solve with patients and share expertise unlike ever before. Dr. Swanson will speak to how novel technologies wed with patient involvement is (for the better) forever changing the future of healthcare delivery. We can leverage patients as partners in advancing health. Through her work as a pediatrician, her experience sharing health information in social and traditional media, and her leadership running a team in digital health and innovation at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Dr Swanson will share lessons learned, tips for technology implementation and the rich opportunities that reside in patient and family co-designed healthcare delivery solutions.

Strong caregiver-patient relationships are built on communication and Dr. Swanson speaks to how the new tech landscape offers outstanding, innovative opportunities for efficient, yet humanistic, exchange of information in the hospital environment. Drawing on her experiences as Chief of Digital Innovation for Seattle's Children's Hospital, as well as her broader observations, Dr. Swanson shows how technology can create efficient communication solutions while enhancing patient care and caretaker experience. For example, in the pre-clinical space, Dr. Swanson built a private online community (Virtual Handshake™) to introduce patients and their loved ones to the doctors and care team they'll meet during visits, education and tips to help before, during and after their appointment or hospital stay, and allows families to build a community around their child. Her team has also built a peer-to-peer and expert-to-family educational app co-designed with patients and families, that leverages pharmacist and sub-specialist expertise for solid organ transplant patients and their families. The app helps support families’ understanding of necessary medications and care after transplantation. Her team measures engagement, experience scores and quality metrics. A pioneer in the use of the digital space to provide humanistic doctor-patient information, Dr. Swanson is a warm, authoritative voice on using new technologies to efficiently and effectively deliver an enhanced healthcare experience.