Author: Kristen Honey

A cohort of innovative, talented minds joined our office this summer. Five Civic Digital Fellows are working with the HHS Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) and Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) on projects using data, emerging technologies, UX, and innovation. Ed Simcox, Chief Technology Officer, is excited to have the fellows on board. He says “Our office is considered the front door to HHS for innovation, so having the Fellows join us is the perfect learning opportunity, as well as a great opportunity for HHS to learn from people outside government.”

After a 14-week “TOP Health” technology sprint, four of 11 teams delivered digital tools that utilized federal open data or artificial intelligence (AI) to address Lyme and tick-borne diseases. These teams’ results were showcased over two days of events at the White House Eisenhower Executive Office Building and at the Census Bureau as part of “The Opportunity Project” (TOP) Demo Day 2019.

The 14-week “TOP Health” tech sprint concluded with 10 teams delivering digital tools — built with Federal data and emerging technologies like AI — to improve clinical trials, experimental therapies, and data-driven solutions for complex challenges from cancer to Lyme and tick-borne diseases.