Translating AI Digital Health Into Impact
Post Date: May 11, 2026 | Publish Date:
Insights from a fireside chat with AstraZeneca’s Head of Digital Health Partnerships
At a recent Cincinnati Children’s Innovation Ventures fireside chat, S. Hassan Naqvi, PhD, head of Digital Health Partnerships at AstraZeneca, focused on a central challenge in healthcare innovation: how to move digital health tools into real-world care.
“Digital—especially AI—is an enabler and an accelerator. It helps us move faster, but it doesn’t replace the fundamentals,” Naqvi said.
Drawing on experience across industry and academia, Naqvi emphasized that AI’s value lies in strengthening—not replacing—clinical expertise. At Cincinnati Children’s, this principle is already shaping how AI is deployed in practice—from imaging tools that support radiologists in identifying disease earlier and more precisely, to systems that enhance, rather than replace, clinical decision-making.
In his view, the critical challenge is bridging the gap between innovation and clinical adoption. That translation requires moving beyond proof of concept and into the broader healthcare “village” of health systems, industry partners and payers, where adoption and impact are ultimately determined.
From Discovery to Delivery
Naqvi described AI’s value in terms of its ability to improve the patient journey. Today, AI is already accelerating discovery science, enabling faster data analysis and improving clinical trial matching. More broadly, it has the potential to support earlier diagnosis, more precise patient stratification, and more personalized treatment pathways—particularly in complex and pediatric conditions where timing is critical.
Cincinnati Children’s is advancing this shift from discovery to delivery by embedding AI directly into care environments. For example, AI-enabled virtual health platforms are being used to extend care beyond the hospital—supporting virtual visits and more seamless coordination across care teams. These efforts reflect a deliberate focus on integrating innovation into real-world clinical workflows.
At the same time, Naqvi cautioned that technical progress alone does not ensure impact. Innovations must be adapted for real-world use—integrating into clinical workflows, aligning with care delivery, and demonstrating clear value.
The Village Model of Innovation
A consistent theme in Naqvi’s remarks was that AI-enabled care cannot be advanced by any single organization. Instead, it depends on alignment across a complex ecosystem.
“It takes a village—health systems, industry, payers and others. You can build the best solution, but if it’s not reimbursed or adopted, it won’t reach patients.”
This “village” model is increasingly reflected in Cincinnati Children’s approach to innovation. Strategic collaborations with industry partners are focused not only on discovery, but on co-developing solutions with a clear path to implementation and scale. Efforts such as joint innovation initiatives in medical imaging are designed to ensure that new technologies are built with both clinical needs and real-world adoption in mind.
For researchers, this means considering implementation earlier in development. For clinicians, it requires prioritizing tools that integrate seamlessly into care. For industry, it means developing solutions with a clear path to reimbursement and scale.
For academic medical centers, Naqvi underscored that successful innovation depends on designing with the full ecosystem in mind—from discovery through commercialization and delivery.
What Industry Looks for in Collaborators
Naqvi noted that strong academic partners are defined first by research capability and talent. Discovery continues to originate in academic settings. But differentiation comes from clarity—understanding and communicating, where an organization has a distinct edge.
At Cincinnati Children’s, that edge is increasingly defined by deep expertise in pediatric disease, access to highly specialized datasets and the ability to develop technologies purpose-built for children—rather than adapting adult-focused solutions.
He also emphasized the importance of early engagement and adaptability:
• Define your edge: Be explicit about where you lead, whether in a therapeutic area, care model, or unique dataset.
• Engage early: Early collaboration with one’s technology transfer office – such as Cincinnati Children’s Innovation Ventures – and industry partners helps ensure alignment with real clinical and market needs.
• Adopt a “not yet” mindset: A lack of immediate interest is rarely final. Use feedback to refine the approach and identify better-aligned opportunities.
He framed this as an extension of the entrepreneurial mindset already familiar to researchers and clinicians—one that moves beyond discovery into collaboration and impact.
A Realistic Path for AI in Healthcare
Looking ahead, Naqvi suggested that AI will continue to evolve, but not as a replacement for clinical or scientific expertise. Like prior waves of innovation, it will deliver meaningful advances alongside periods of recalibration of expectations.
At Cincinnati Children’s, this perspective is guiding how AI is implemented—focused less on novelty and more on measurable improvements in care, from earlier detection of disease to more personalized treatment strategies and better coordination across care settings.
Its greatest value, he noted, will likely be accelerating existing processes, enhancing decision-making, and improving how patients and providers interact with care. The most durable innovations will be those grounded in real clinical needs and designed for adoption from the outset.
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About this blog
The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Email researchnews@cchmc.org with questions or ideas.
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