Cardiologist to chair new FDA advisory committee focused on AI, other digital health technologies
A renowned cardiologist has been selected to lead a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee designed to help the agency better understand emerging digital health topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), wearable technologies and cybersecurity.
The Digital Health Advisory Committee is tasked with providing perspective and recommendations on a wide variety of topics; these insights will then help the FDA draft new policies and make other important decisions. Ami B. Bhatt, MD, a digital health specialist and longtime member of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), will serve as the committee’s very first chair. While Bhatt currently serves as the ACC’s chief innovation officer, a position she has held since January 2022, she was also a cardiologist with Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School.
Bhatt’s four-year term as committee chair will run until July 31, 2028.
Other members include:
- James Swink, a member of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health
- Ray Dorsey, MD, MBA, a professor with the University of Rochester
- Yaniv Kerem, MD, an emergency medicine specialist with Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center
- Joyce C. Ho, PhD, an associate professor with the computer science department at Emory University
- Jessica L. Jackson, PhD, founder and CEO of Therapy Is For Everyone
- Thomas M. Maddox, MD, SM, a cardiologist with Washington University School of Medicine
- Chevon M. Rariy, MD, chief health officer and senior vice president of Oncology Care Partners
- Laura M. Stanley, PhD, CPE, an associate professor with Montana State University’s Gianforte School of Computing
- Melissa Denise Clarkson, PhD, a professor with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Clarkson will serve as the committee’s consumer representative.
The newly formed Digital Health Advisory Committee will meet in person in November. The primary focus of that first meeting is expected to be generative AI technologies, including its potential impact on the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.
Additional information about the new committee is available on the FDA website.
Watch in-depth Cardiovascular Business interviews with Bhatt here, here and here.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.