The Washington Summit on Technology’s Increasing Role in Healthcare Innovation

The Washington Health Innovation Council convened June 11, 2026 at the beautiful Willard Building for the Washington Summit on Deep BioSensing, Wearables Policy, and AI-Driven Diagnostics. Leaders from the FDA, industry, patient advocacy, investment, and healthcare policy shared a timely discussion on the future of technology in healthcare, and the impacts innovation is already having on legislation. 

A highlight of the program was a fireside discussion with Dr. Rick Abramson, Director of the FDA Digital Health Center of Excellence. He shared perspectives on the agency's priorities for digital health, including regulatory clarity, risk-proportionate oversight, lifecycle management of AI-enabled technologies, and the need to develop forward-looking frameworks that can keep pace with rapidly evolving innovation.He also discussed the FDA TEMPO pilot and broader interest in regulatory sandbox approaches designed to accelerate responsible innovation while collecting real-world evidence. 

JK Strategies consultant Mia Heck discussed the CMS ACCESS initiative, which seeks to accelerate responsible innovation by creating pathways for outcomes-based reimbursement for digital health solutions.

We were also pleased to hear from Kirsten Tullia, Executive Director of AdvaMed Digital Health Tech, who provided an update on the organization's 2026 policy priorities and the opportunities ahead for collaboration between regulators, innovators, and industry stakeholders. 

 Cameron Baker of Boston Scientific provided an extremely timely insider update on the “Great American AI Act” (GAAIA) discussion draft released by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) last week. Attendees benefitted from her "boots-on-the-ground" information about how to provide their own comments on this legislation. 

The program also included an inspiring fireside conversation featuring author, healthcare advocate, and lung cancer survivor Shira Kupperman Boehler, whose work highlights the transformative potential of early detection technologies. Her message reinforced the importance of aligning innovation, reimbursement, and public policy to improve patient outcomes and expand access to life-saving diagnostics. Joining her was Elizabeth Pika Sharp of Philips Healthcare, who discussed the importance of quality medical technology working in tandem with AI to assist providers with early detection and preventative healthcare. 

Attendees participated in an in-depth discussion and Q&A with Laura Yecies, CEO of OsteoBoost Health, and JKS consultant Cathy Cohen on the pathway for an FDA-cleared wearable therapeutic device designed to treat osteopenia and osteoporosis. Her remarks highlighted the promise of wearable innovation to address major public health challenges, as well as the regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization considerations that shape the path from breakthrough technology to patient access.

Across every discussion, a common theme emerged: the future of healthcare will depend on thoughtful collaboration between policymakers, regulators, innovators, investors, providers, and patients.

We are grateful to our speakers, members, and guests for contributing to a meaningful conversation about the next generation of healthcare innovation. Thank you to Boston Scientific for hosting us, our friends with Dartmouth Consortium for Deep BioSensing and Wearables and Goodwin Procter. And we were happy to welcome Bharat Tewarie, CEO of Helio Genomics and Board member of the Netherland-American Foundation to your first meeting as a new WHIC member. After the meeting we gathered to build new and strengthen existing friendships, collaborate and find intersection points while enjoying the views of the Ellipse, White House (and UFC Freedom 250 preparations) and the Washington Monument and later at the Occidental.