Launched in January 2017, the Center for Digital Health (CDH) finds synergies and creates collaborations between Stanford Medicine, digital health, and technology companies. CDH enables the Stanford community to create cutting-edge advancements at the intersection of health care and technology. The center also provides training on developing and implementing digital health tools for clinical practice. 

CDH is led by Mintu Turakhia, MD, MAS, associate professor of Cardiovascular Medicine; Euan Ashley, MD, PhD, professor of Cardiovascular Medicine; and Bob Harrington, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine.

Over its first year, CDH has developed several services and resources to support Stanford’s digital health community: 

1.    Enabling Research: Through ongoing relationships and outreach to the technology, medtech, and investment communities, CDH has connected several dozen faculty members with new scientific research opportunities. As part of one recent initiative that involved a competitive grant selection process, CDH distributed over 1,000 smart watches to Stanford faculty, challenging them to develop digital health solutions using the devices.

2.    Providing Guidance: CDH has compiled technical and institutional resources to help guide researchers through the stages of developing and launching digital health projects at Stanford University. 

3.    Creating a Stanford Digital Health Database: CDH has launched an interactive database that provides an efficient way to share learnings and foster collaboration across the digital health community at Stanford. This searchable tool allows researchers to connect with faculty leading digital health projects and studies spanning a diverse range of clinical and technical fields. 

4.    Offering Workshops and Events, and Building Community: CDH has developed interactive platforms to provide forums to discuss digital health ideas, to spark innovation and collaboration, and to provide opportunities for shared learning and experiences. Past workshop video recordings are available for Stanford affiliates. 

In 2018, CDH will announce new projects, events, and educational opportunities. The center is also creating a liaison community that will serve as a sounding board to better evaluate, communicate, and foster new opportunities in digital health. 

To stay in the know about all things digital health, subscribe to the CDH monthly newsletter, Decoding Digital Health, follow us on twitter @StanfordCDH, or contact us by email at digitalhealth@stanford.edu.