16 Healthcare Innovators That You Should Know

Aline Holzwarth
7 min readJun 27, 2022
16 healthcare innovators you should know

These 16 innovators are changing the face of healthcare. They are behavioral scientists, product leaders, academic researchers, statisticians, physicians, clinicians, strategists, experts in diversity equity and inclusion, implementation scientists, and tech leaders. They cross boundaries and repel traditional healthcare models. They are on the front lines and behind the scenes. And what they all have in common is their passion and commitment to innovation in health.

In my interviews with these sixteen leaders, I found they are redefining what it means to be an innovator. From uprooting systemic inequities to enabling paradigm shifts in research methods, from connecting with patients to designing delightful experiences, they are the ones making a difference in healthcare.

1. Heather Cole-Lewis

Heather Cole-Lewis is an accomplished leader with deep cross-sector experience, a strong scientific background in evidence-based solutions, and a proven ability to develop, drive, and measure the impact of systematic business processes that enhance health outcomes and critical business outcomes. She is Health Equity Clinical Scientist at Google. Read her full interview here: on health technology with humility and bringing your full self.

2. Linda Collins

Linda Collins is a behavioral scientist and research methodologist who has developed and expanded the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework for integrating basic engineering principles into intervention science. She is working toward a paradigm shift in intervention science to replace outmoded (yet popular) methods with more effective research processes that are more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. She is Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Biostatistics in the School of Global Public Health at New York University. Read her full interview here: on hard-nosed empiricism and optimizing interventions.

3. Riana Elyse Anderson

Riana Elyse Anderson strives to improve psychological outcomes for Black youth through culturally and contextually relevant parenting programs focused on racism and discrimination, effective coping strategies, and community building. You can also catch her at…

Aline Holzwarth

Aline Holzwarth is an applied behavioral scientist, primarily focusing on digital health research and scientifically informed product design. alineholzwarth.com