The Center for Digital and Technological Innovation in Healthcare will be among the first at Fresno State dedicated to advancing health care through advanced digital solutions and transformative approaches.
Housed within the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State, the new online, interdisciplinary center will encompass faculty fellows from five different colleges on campus, including the College of Health and Human Services, Craig School of Business, Kremen School of Education and Human Development, Lyles College of Engineering and College of Science and Mathematics.
With collaboration at the forefront, faculty from each college will work together to develop solutions that enhance health outcomes, support workforce development and promote economic growth across the Central Valley.
“We strive to be a national leader in digital and artificial intelligence-driven health care innovation and aim to transform health care locally and beyond through accessible, high-impact solutions that improve outcomes and expand access,” said Dr. Nupur Hajela, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Fresno State and the founding director of the Center for Digital and Technological Innovation in Healthcare.
Twelve faculty fellows from across campus, including Hajela, will lead research, education and innovation initiatives for the center:
- Dr. Marcus Crawford, associate professor in the Department of Social Work Education, College of Health and Human Services. Crawford also serves alongside Hajela as associate director of the Center for Digital and Technological Innovation in Healthcare.
- Dr. Emanuel Alcala, assistant director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, College of Health and Human Services.
- Dr. Akhil Kanodia, clinical professor in the Department of Management, Craig School of Business.
- Dr. Vartuhi Tonoyan, associate professor in the Department of Management, Craig School of Business.
- Dr. Hovannes Kulhandjian, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lyles College of Engineering.
- Dr. Soumyasanta Laha, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lyles College of Engineering.
- Dr. The Leo Nguyen, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lyles College of Engineering.
- Dr. Rohit Mehta, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Kremen School of Education and Human Development.
- Dr. Trang Phan, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Kremen School of Education and Human Development.
- Dr. Ellen Woo, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, College of Science and Mathematics.
- Dr. Matthew Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, College of Science and Mathematics.
The center will host its first event, “Frontiers in AI and Digital Health Innovation Summit,” as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, at the University Business Center (Room 191) at Fresno State.
The event will kick off at 10 a.m. with poster presentations from faculty and students, in addition to technology demonstrations from the Fresno State Library and Immergo Labs, which will showcase the extended reality (XR) glasses on Meta Quest 3 and other platforms. Participants will be able to experience immersive simulations and games, while exploring digital, hands-on innovation. Hanger Clinic Inc. will demonstrate the Clinical Assistant for Records Automation (CARA), its custom-built AI tool designed to streamline documentation workflows within NextGen Electronic Health Records and reduce administrative burden on clinical staff.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be from 11 to 11:30 a.m. to mark the official launch of the digital center. This will be followed by an overview and presentation by Hajela.
Other presentations include:
- Keynote presentation “Empowering Patients Through Human-Centered Digital Health and AI” by Dr. Katherine Kim, founder and CEO of Health Tequity LLC (12:15-12:30 p.m.).
- Research presentation “Co-Designing Embodied Telehealth for XR-based Physical Rehabilitation” by Dr. Aviv Elor, co-founder and president of Immergo Labs (12:30-12:45 p.m.).
- Panel I – “AI and Digital Health: Foundations and Emerging Innovations”: Explore the current landscape of artificial intelligence in health care, highlighting how digital health technologies are transforming education, clinical practice, research and population health (12:45-1:30 p.m.).
- Panel II – “AI and Digital Health: Implementation, Scaling and Industry Perspectives”: Learn how to translate AI innovations into practice, emphasizing implementation strategies, industry partnerships and scalability within health care systems (1:30-2:15 p.m.).
- Student reflections, showcasing their interaction and experience with digital technologies (2:15-3 p.m.).
View the full list of panelists, agenda items and register for the free, public event online.
Hajela said this event aligns with the center’s goal of fostering interdisciplinary research among professionals in health sciences, engineering, business and education. Other goals include enhancing faculty and student engagement through cross-college mentorship and experiential learning opportunities; in addition to launching pilot projects in remote patient monitoring, predictive analytics and virtual care.
