Introducing Emily Lewis 

Emily Lewis, MS, CCRP, is a leader in Digital Medicine at UCP Pharma with a passion for improving healthcare and using advanced technologies such as generative artificial intelligence. She is driven to maximize the good and deliver on the promise that AI holds for making the world a better place.  

My name is Emily Lewis, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Lead within Digital Care Transformation at UCB Pharma. I am based in Denver, Colorado. 

What led you to go into your research field? 

I have a strong desire to improve patient care, outcomes, and the overall healthcare system in the United States. At the same time, I have a keen interest in advanced technologies and their applications and believe in their potential to revolutionize healthcare. My experience pioneering Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) led me to an interest in wearable technology and novel biomarkers of disease. Involvement in such projects, developing algorithms for wearables or software as a medical device, then got me very interested in traditional machine learning, and eventually generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). I’m particularly interested in using AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy and reduce clinician error and burnout. My belief is that AI will be very important in tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their unique characteristics as well as improving access to care. 

What type of research are you currently doing?  

I’ve been in clinical research since 2007, so roughly 17 years. Currently, I am involved in researching how generative AI, particularly large language models, can be used to transform care delivery models and improve physician referrals and patient communication, engagement, and understanding. Researching generative AI in care delivery settings is important in efforts to speed earlier detection and better management of disease. It also holds the promise of improved treatment efficacy with more tailored therapeutic approaches. 

How does it do that? 

GenAI can analyze vast amounts of data to uncover patterns and insights that can inform clinical decision making and further research. It opens up new areas of research, particularly in better understanding more complex medical conditions which were previously difficult to study. The hope is that, ultimately, GenAI can provide more equitable access to care with tailored interventions at a more economic cost, thereby improving patient outcomes and public health. 

What is a typical day for you like?  

I spend my time writing study proposals and protocols, presenting to steering committees, reading peer-reviewed publications (like Karger’s), and writing company position papers on our strategic plans for the use of AI both near term and long term. These strategic plans are subsequently reviewed by the executive leadership as well as our board. Also, I am involved in several consortia, academic and industry partnerships, and alliances, which allows UCB to collaborate with, contribute to, and learn from the external ecosystem. We bring in external innovation, contribute to policy discussions and best practices, and provide thought leadership in conversations about emerging technology.   

Emily, 5th from left, at the Pharmaceutical Management Science Association (PMSA) Conference in Denver, Colorado

What motivates you the most about your current work? 

I am motivated by the ability to contribute to improving healthcare efficiency, reducing healthcare disparities, and enhancing public health at scale. AI is a tool that could be used for both good and evil in this world, so I am doing my best to ensure we maximize those good use cases and deliver on the promise that AI holds for generally making the world a better place. 

What is your vision for the future of your scientific/medical specialty? 

Working within particularly complex conditions in neurology, I am particularly interested in how AI will assist clinicians in their ability to provide more effective treatments to patients with fewer side effects. In my perspective, AI-driven drug discovery can identify new therapeutic targets and accelerate the development of novel treatments for some of the most difficult neurological disorders. I also believe that AI will assist in uncovering disease mechanisms and provide a more robust understanding of what causes neurological conditions. 

What advice would you give to a researcher or healthcare professional starting out?  

I would say to gain hands-on experience with internships, multi-disciplinary projects, and collaborations which focus on understanding, solving, or building solutions for real clinical problems with AI. The importance of implementation science also cannot be overstated. Always remember to consider the patient’s perspective and aim to improve their overall experience with the healthcare system. 

What motivated you to apply to become a Karger Ambassador? 

I first become aware of Karger when they came out with their Digital Biomarkers journal. I became a Karger Ambassador a little over a year ago. And I enjoy being involved in thought leadership around AI as well as digital care transformation. Karger offers a great platform to learn, connect, and share with others of various backgrounds and experiences. I haven’t published many articles and always thought that publishing was for those with PhDs or MDs. Since then, I have come to realize that this is a fallacy, and the research I’m involved in absolutely deserves an outlet. I wanted to learn the inner workings of how to get published, what time commitment it requires, and how one might go about drafting manuscripts. 

What is your vision for your future?  

I see myself becoming a Chief Innovation Officer or Chief AI Officer, contributing to publications which advance the field in AI both on paper and in clinical practice, addressing unmet patient needs.

How do you switch off from a busy day at work?  

I’m in a lot of activities with my daughter. She’s in parent-tot classes in music, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, and snowboarding, believe it or not. I keep her busy and challenge her the best I can. And I love listening to the NEJM AI podcast as well as the People of AI podcast from Google and I enjoyed reading “The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond,” by Peter Lee, Carey Goldberg, and Isaac Kohane. In my time away from my daughter, I enjoy snowboarding myself and have season passes to many of the great resorts in Colorado. 

Emily attending Google I/O in San Francisco with Google Women Techmakers

Emily Lewis is a trailblazing innovator and leader in the realm of digital health and AI. With nearly two decades of experience, she has made significant contributions to the development and adoption of cutting-edge digital health solutions. Her passion for using technology to improve patient outcomes and advance healthcare has earned her recognition as one of Fierce Healthcare’s Rising Stars in HealthTech. 

Emily gained valuable experience working in various clinical research settings, including in academia, contract research organizations (CROs), pharmaceutical companies, and start-ups. These experiences allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and the potential for digital health solutions to revolutionize patient care. Within her current role, Emily serves as UCB Biopharma’s resident subject matter expert in AI. In continuously following industry trends and engaging in internal and external initiatives, she translates and evaluates their impact on the company, clients, and products. Cultivating relationships with key decision makers and industry leaders, Emily is an active participant and advocate in many initiatives that strive to increase the adoption of health IT, interoperability, access to health data, and patient engagement. In collaboration with other thought leaders, Emily has been instrumental in identifying ways to increase the adoption of digital tools which can improve patient care and reduce healthcare waste and decrease expenditure. 

As a thought leader, Emily has 13,000 followers on LinkedIn and thrives on being a part of the most cutting-edge conversations shaping the future of healthcare. She desires to break down silos and create a social movement to initiate meaningful, sustainable, systemic change for collective impact. Emily enjoys listening and learning from others in the field and believes that, together, we can achieve a future where the healthcare system works for everyone. Supporting many strategic initiatives in change management and digital transformation, Emily has demonstrated a commitment to harnessing the power of IT to positively transform health and healthcare. Her leadership and impact on the industry, advocacy for inclusive policies, and commitment to mentorship demonstrate her leadership and dedication to advancing digital health.