MEDFUTURE 2025: SCCMA AI & Health Innovation Forum

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The conference opened with a keynote presentation by Jonathan H. Chen, MD, PhD, a Stanford physician-scientist and nationally recognized leader in clinical informatics and healthcare artificial intelligence.

Dr. Chen leads a Stanford research group focused on combining human expertise and artificial intelligence to improve medical care and clinical decision-making.

In his keynote address, he explored:

• The evolving partnership between physicians and AI technologies
• How artificial intelligence can      enhance diagnostic accuracy
• The development of medical AI agents
• Why empathy and human judgment remain essential in medicine

Dr. Chen’s talk emphasized that the future of healthcare innovation will depend on collaboration between clinicians and technologists.

The first panel session, “Physicians as Innovators: Navigating Roles in Health Tech and AI,” explored how physicians are increasingly leading innovation in healthcare technology.

The discussion was moderated by Reena Bhargava, MD, FACP, Co-Founder and CEO of BioTrax AI and former Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Bhargava brings over 20 years of experience in digital health, virtual care, and clinical informatics.

Panelists included:

• Renumathy Dhanasekaran, MD, PhD - Stanford physician-scientist and Co-Founder of Arithmedics, developing AI-driven tools designed to improve clinical workflows in oncology and gastroenterology.
• Jesse Courtier, MD - Founder of Sira Medical and former Chief of Pediatric Radiology at UCSF. His work integrates augmented reality with medical imaging to improve surgical planning and anatomical visualization.

The panel explored how physicians can transition into roles as health technology founders, advisors, and innovators, helping ensure that emerging technologies address real clinical needs.

A fireside discussion brought together two leaders in artificial intelligence and healthcare entrepreneurship:

• Ronjon Nag, PhD - Founder of R42 Group and Adjunct Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. With more than 40 years of experience in AI, Dr. Nag has founded companies acquired by Apple, Motorola, and BlackBerry.
• Gary Alan Goldman, MD - Founder and CEO of the Global Health Impact Network & Funds, supporting physician-led innovation and investment in digital health startups.

Their conversation examined how AI, investment, and physician leadership are shaping the next generation of healthcare technologies.

Following the morning sessions, attendees explored the MEDFUTURE Exhibition Hall, featuring companies across the health technology ecosystem.

Innovations showcased included:

• AI-powered medical diagnostics
• Digital health platforms
• Healthcare workflow optimization tools
• Emerging medical technologies and therapeutics

The exhibition created valuable opportunities for physicians, startups, and healthcare technology companies to collaborate and exchange ideas.

MEDFUTURE concluded with Pitch Perfect, a startup pitch competition highlighting early-stage healthcare companies developing innovative medical technologies.

Selected startups presented their solutions to an audience of physicians, investors, and healthcare industry leaders, sharing how their technologies could:

• Improve patient outcomes
• Increase healthcare system efficiency
• Advance digital health innovation

Panelists provided real-time feedback on clinical feasibility, innovation potential, and market impact, giving startups valuable insight into how their technologies can be implemented in real-world healthcare environments.

All attendees had the opper  

By creating opportunities for physicians to engage with emerging technologies, SCCMA helps ensure that innovation in healthcare remains grounded in clinical expertise, ethical standards, and patient-centered care.

Events like MEDFUTURE demonstrate how organized medicine can play a key role in connecting the medical community with Silicon Valley’s technology ecosystem.unity to