Google Health's Karen DeSalvo Announces Retirement, Leaving Legacy of Innovation and Public Health Leadership

In a significant development for the health technology sector, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Google's first chief health officer, has announced her retirement scheduled for this summer. DeSalvo's departure marks the end of a distinguished career that has spanned medicine, public health, and leadership roles in healthcare policy and health tech.

A Career Dedicated to Public Health

DeSalvo joined Google Health in 2019, bringing with her a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. Her career highlights include:

• Serving as the National Coordinator for Health IT from 2014 to 2016
• Acting as Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama
• Leading health response efforts in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005
• Holding positions as Vice Dean for Community Affairs and Health Policy and Chief of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine

During her tenure at Google, DeSalvo played a pivotal role in expanding the tech giant's healthcare initiatives, leveraging the company's vast resources to address global health challenges.

Google Health's Expanding Portfolio

Under DeSalvo's leadership, Google Health has seen significant growth and innovation. Key developments include:

• The acquisition of Fitbit in 2021, integrating wearable technology into Google's health ecosystem
• Launch of Health Connect, a platform designed to integrate health, fitness, and wellness data on Android devices
• Expansion of healthcare-related initiatives across YouTube and Google Search
• Development of cutting-edge AI capabilities to enhance care, support clinicians, and accelerate scientific breakthroughs

Notable AI projects include improving breast cancer screening accuracy, enhancing genomic analysis, and advancing work on the Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE), a research conversational diagnostic medical AI system.

Leadership Transition and Future Outlook

As DeSalvo steps down, she has named Dr. Michael Howell, currently Google Health's chief clinical officer, as her successor. In her LinkedIn announcement, DeSalvo expressed confidence in Howell's ability to lead Google's cross-company mission "to harness our tools and technology to help everyone, everywhere live a longer, healthier life."

DeSalvo's retirement comes at a time of rapid advancement in health technology, with AI and data integration playing increasingly crucial roles in healthcare delivery and research. Her legacy at Google Health sets the stage for continued innovation in the intersection of technology and healthcare.