Dear DHEC members, We’re excited to share what’s ahead as we continue building momentum toward a more equitable digital health space! At a Glance: - August Webinar: Join us on August 31 at 10am PT for a discussion on AI Scribes featuring Yimdriuska Magan, MD, MPH, CPH, and Hannah Galvin, MD, FAAP, FAMIA, CHCIO, CDH-E. Register to receive the Zoom link and add the event to your calendar here!
- Featured Reading: New research explores AI's role in improving clinical trial recruitment and expanding language access in healthcare, while underscoring the importance of equitable implementation and human oversight.
- New Leadership Spotlight Series: We're launching a quarterly interview series beginning with DHEC leaders Alejandra Casillas, Elaine Khoong, and Jorge Rodriguez, who will share their perspectives on the future of digital health equity.
- Federal Grant Policy Update: Proposed federal changes could affect grant review processes, funding stability, and applicant eligibility. Public comments are currently open.
Here’s what we’ve been up to—and what’s coming next in digital health equity! Coming This August: Our Next DHEC Webinar Mark your calendars—our next webinar is taking place on August 31st at 10am PT. We’ll be diving into AI Scribes with speakers Yimdriuska Magan, MD, MPH, CPH, Co-Founder of Alma First, and Hannah Galvin, MD, FAAP, FAMIA, CHCIO, CDH-E, Chief Health Information Officer at Cambridge Health Alliance. Register to receive the Zoom link and add the event to your calendar here! What We're Reading Our team has been digging into new research and perspectives shaping digital health equity. Please see below for this quarter’s featured summaries, and you can always explore more through our website’s reading resources page. Manual vs AI-Assisted Prescreening for Trial Eligibility Using Large Language Models (Unlu et al.) A recent randomized clinical trial published in JAMA found that an AI-assisted screening tool using a large language model (LLM) identified eligible clinical trial participants more quickly and increased enrollment rates compared with traditional manual review. The study highlights the potential for AI to streamline clinical research workflows and improve recruitment efficiency. The findings raise important opportunities—and questions—about how AI-enabled tools can expand access to research participation while ensuring equitable identification and inclusion of diverse patient populations. AI and Language Access in Health Care: Opportunities, Risks, and Early Lessons (Katy Haynes) A new report from the California Health Care Foundation explores how AI-powered translation and interpretation tools are being used to improve language access for patients with limited English proficiency. Early pilots across California suggest AI can increase efficiency in lower-risk tasks such as translating patient education materials, appointment reminders, and discharge instructions. However, the report emphasizes that AI should augment—not replace—qualified human interpreters, particularly for clinical conversations, informed consent, and other high-stakes interactions. This report highlights both the promise of AI to expand access and the importance of strong governance, human oversight, and culturally responsive implementation to ensure these tools advance rather than undermine equitable care. New Quarterly Series: Conversations With Digital Health Equity Leaders We’re thrilled to announce a new segment where we sit down with leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what equitable digital health can look like. Each conversation will highlight their work, motivations, and vision for the future. To kick things off, we’ll be interviewing our own DHEC leadership team: - Alejandra Casillas, MD, MSHS – UCLA
- Elaine Khoong, MD, MS – UCSF
- Jorge Rodriguez, MD – Mass General Brigham
They’ll share what drives their work, what keeps them hopeful, and what they see as the next frontier in digital health equity. Stay tuned for the first installment of this series! Federal Grant Policy Update—Public Comment Opportunity Proposed federal changes could significantly alter how grants are reviewed and awarded. Key provisions would: - Allow political appointees to override peer review decisions
- Permit grant termination at any time, for any reason
- Restrict eligibility for applicants affiliated with organizations deemed to conflict with “public safety or national security,” including some public health or civil rights groups
Make your voice heard: Public comments are open and may be submitted anonymously at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance#open-comment Tips for commenting (brief is fine): - Share who you are and your connection to federally funded work
- Note which provisions concern you (e.g., §§200.202, 200.204, 200.205)
- Describe potential impacts on your work, community, or field
- Clearly state your recommendation (e.g., withdraw or revise the rule)
Additional background information is available here: If you have any suggestions, comments, or feedback you’d like to share with the DHEC Leadership Team, please submit all comments through this form here. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar on August 31st! —The DHEC Team If this message has been forwarded to you, you can sign up to receive future updates directly here. |
