Building an Innovation Nation

The Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is, in a lot of ways, the chief innovation officer, bringing a can-do, creative spirit to government. I will share stories about how the passion and tenacity we associate with startups can be found in every health care setting, from government labs to communities of people living with rare, life-changing, or chronic health conditions.
One deceptively simple insight runs like a thread through all these organizations: the internet gives us access not only to information but also to each other. If we leverage this newfound power to crowd-source and communicate, to value the tinkerers and the change makers at every level, we can build a stronger, more innovative health care system.

What will happen when everyone has access to the tools and information they need to solve their own problems — and share their ideas with others? My hope: an Innovation Nation.