USC's Digital Health Expert Provides Critical Physician Insights On Cybersecurity and Medical Devices Panel Discussion in the Nation's Capital

The panel discussed critical issues surrounding regulations and enforcement of safety standards and policies to avoid the cybersecurity risks inherent in digital health, including medical apps, in front of a crowd of more than 100 policymakers, corporate executives and news media. As the only physician on the panel and a recognized national authority on digital health, Saxon's fellow panelists included: Michael Chertoff, executive chairman and co-founder of The Chertoff Group and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Michael Morrell, former acting and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); William V. Murray, president and CEO of Medical Device Innovation Consortium; and Robert B. Ford, executive vice president of medical devices for Abbott. Janet Marchibroda, director of health innovation for the Bipartisan Policy Center, which addresses national issues in economic policy, energy, immigration, national security and health care, moderated the panel discussion.

"Cyber security is going to be an ongoing risk for digital health as it is with any connected product," said Saxon. "At the USC Center for Body Computing, we are taking a leadership position with product makers as well as regulatory and enforcement authorities to help create safety standards and policies for this fast-paced and rapidly growing area of health care."

Saxon's medical background and digital health expertise is aiding industry as well as state and federal governments and agencies to address the accelerating collision of digital health and cybersecurity risks. She is working with California Governor Jerry Brown's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) on best health IT cybersecurity practices in support of the public-private effort known as CyberCalifornia. Saxon is also a member of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) global mobile guidance committee reviewing regulations and standards for medical apps and serves as chair of the Cybersecurity Medical Advisory Board for Abbott.

About the USC Center for Body Computing
Founded in 2006 by internationally-recognized physician visionary Leslie Saxon, MD, the USC Center for Body Computing (USC CBC) is an innovation hub designed to bring together digital and life sciences executives, sensor and mobile app investors, strategists, designers, and thought leaders from healthcare, entertainment and technology to collaborate on transformative health care solutions.  The USC CBC is a leader in digital health clinical research and elite athletic performance studies. In collaboration with Keck Medicine of USC, the Center has the ability to conduct clinical trials and performance studies that help define and guide member's product development efforts. The future patient care models being developed at the Center will leverage technology along with physician expertise to bring disease treatment and management options to more people on demand at an affordable cost. For more information visit:  uscbodycomputing.org

SOURCE USC Center for Body Computing