(CORALVILLE, IOWA, USA) JANUARY 13, 2021 – Digital Diagnostics, the first FDA-Cleared autonomous AI diagnostic company of its kind, is pleased to announce the appointment of George Barrett, former chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH), to the board of directors.
“George is a world-class, global healthcare leader and joins the Digital Diagnostics board of directors at a critical moment of growth as the company rapidly expands our fully autonomous AI platform,” said John Bertrand, chief executive officer of Digital Diagnostics. “He brings with him an overwhelming wealth of healthcare and leadership experience and we look forward to the valuable perspectives he will provide to our company.”
“The appointment of Mr. Barrett adds to the momentum the company has experienced in recent years, including the rapid growth and diversification of its AI platform, the recent acquisition of 3Derm, and the adoption of Digital Diagnostics by payer networks, enterprise customers, and healthcare systems,” stated Michael Abramoff, founder and executive chairman of Digital Diagnostics.
Mr. Barrett served as chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health, a multinational healthcare services and products company, from 2009-2017, when he became executive chairman of the board until November 2018. Under his leadership, Cardinal Health grew to rank 15th on the Fortune 500 with annual revenue of more than $130 billion and 50,000 employees in nearly 60 countries.
Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Barrett spent a decade at global pharmaceutical manufacturer Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, as president and CEO of its North American business and corporate executive vice president for global pharmaceuticals. Barrett held various senior positions with Alpharma, serving as president of U.S. pharmaceuticals and president of NMC Laboratories, before its acquisition by Alpharma.
Barrett serves on several boards of directors, including: Target Corporation, Resilience, a first-of-its kind biopharmaceutical manufacturing and technology, and Olive, a healthcare-focused artificial intelligence company. He serves on the Advisory Board of InStride, a public benefit corporation that provides workforce education, is vice chair of the board of trustees of The Conference Board, and a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development. Barrett serves on the boards of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety, and was a director of the Fourth District of the Federal Reserve Bank, among his service with several other notable community organizations and foundations. Barrett is adjunct faculty at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and is a frequent lecturer on leadership at other leading universities.
“The technologies of Digital Diagnostics not only improve the diagnosis of complex diseases, but also create the opportunity for more people to have access to care,” said George Barrett. “I am excited to be part of the team.”
In addition to Mr. Barrett, Digital Diagnostics board of directors includes:
- Michael Abramoff, MD, PhD, Digital Diagnostics, founder and executive chairman of the Board, and The Robert Watzke Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa
- Ambassador Howard Leach, President of Leach Capital, LLC and former United States Ambassador to France
- Senator William H. Frist, MD, nationally recognized heart and lung transplant surgeon, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader
- James Folk, MD, Judith (Gardner) and Donald H. Beisner Professor of Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery at the University of Iowa
- Drew Oetting, co-founder and Managing Partner for 8VC
- Lisa Tseng, MD, Executive Vice President UnitedHealth Group
- John Bertrand, Digital Diagnostics, Chief Executive Officer
- Seth Rainford, Digital Diagnostics, President and Chief Operating Officer
Instantaneous Diagnosis at the Front Line of Care | The Digital Diagnostics Story
Digital Diagnostics was founded in 2010 by Michael Abramoff, a practicing, fellowship-trained retina specialist, neuroscientist and computer engineer who developed a unique, patented biomarker-based approach to build autonomous AI algorithms that perform cognitively complex tasks. These algorithms are integrated into easy-to-use systems that can make instantaneous clinical decisions in which the computer makes the medical decision. To make instantaneous diagnoses, both of Digital Diagnostics products, LumineticsCore™ (formerly known as IDx-DR) and 3DermSpot, use high quality images of the eyes and skin coupled with autonomous AI; the system is operated by existing primary care clinic staff.
Digital Diagnostics products are in use by the largest and most prestigious health systems in the U.S. and globally. The company works closely with patient advocacy groups, federal regulators, and other quality of care and ethics-focused stakeholders to enable adoption of autonomous AI.
Digital Diagnostics Recent Milestones:
- February 2018: LumineticsCore (formerly known as IDx-DR) receives Breakthrough Device designation from FDA
- April 2018: First time FDA issues De Novo authorization for an autonomous AI, LumineticsCore (formerly known as IDx-DR), in any field of medicine
- May 2019: CPT® Editorial Panel creates the first CPT® category 1 code for autonomous AI, 92229, for the diabetic eye exam.
- December 2019: American Diabetes Association updates its Standard of Diabetes Care to include autonomous AI for the diabetic eye exam.
- January 2020: 3DermSpot receives Breakthrough Device designation from FDA.
- July 2020: NCQA updates HEDIS measure to support the use of autonomous AI for closing the diabetic eye exam care gap.
- August 2020: First time, U.S. CMS issues Medicare coverage and reimbursement for autonomous AI, for CPT code 92229.
- August 2020: Digital Diagnostics acquires 3Derm Systems, clearing the path toward 3DermSpot availability in EMEA markets.
Healthcare Autonomous AI the Right Way
Digital Diagnostics is committed to autonomous AI the right way: with an unwavering focus on improving patient equity, outcomes, safety, and efficacy. The company has worked collaboratively within the healthcare and regulatory systems of multiple countries, including U.S. federal agencies, to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of ethical, evidence-based, autonomous AI.
About Digital Diagnostics Inc. (www.DXS.ai)
Digital Diagnostics Inc. (formerly IDx) is a pioneering AI diagnostics company on a mission to transform the quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare. It was founded and is led by Michael Abramoff, MD, PhD, a practicing, fellowship-trained retina specialist ophthalmologist, neuroscientist and computer engineer. The platform includes two autonomous AI systems, LumineticsCore (formerly known as IDx-DR) and 3DermSpot. Digital Diagnostics is paving the way for autonomous AI diagnosis to become a new standard of care, contributing to democratizing healthcare and closing care gaps. The company works closely with patient advocacy groups, federal regulators, and other quality of care and ethics-focused stakeholders to enable adoption of autonomous AI. For more information and the latest news follow: https://www.digitaldiagnostics.com