Tech Talks: Health & Technology

Discover the latest breakthroughs at the intersection of healthcare and technology through a series of fast-paced, thought-provoking presentations from leading experts in the field. Hosted by Grand Valley State University and Van Andel Institute as part of Tech Week Grand Rapids, this event brings together innovators, researchers, and changemakers to explore how emerging technologies are transforming medicine, patient care, and the future of health.

Featured Talks

New Machine Learning Avenues in Biomedical Research

Andrew Pospisilik, Van Andel Institute

Dr. Pospisilik will discuss cases on how these new technologies are being applied at Van Andel Institute. Van Andel Institute is a biomedical research and science education institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, dedicated to understanding the roots of diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, and translating those discoveries into new treatments and cures.

Educating for the AI Era in Health Professions

Kristen Vu & Michelle Strange, Grand Valley State University

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer on the horizon—it’s in our clinics, labs, and classrooms today. In this session, we’ll share how our College of Health Professions AI Task Group is preparing students and faculty to thrive in an AI-powered healthcare world. From faculty training and student skill-building to pinpointing AI opportunities in each discipline, we’ll explore practical strategies for weaving AI into the curriculum. Attendees will gain insights and actionable steps to ensure graduates are ready to lead in an AI-enabled healthcare environment.

‍Reimagine Care, Collaboration & Innovation with AI Companion

Ron Strachan & Donald Dembinski, Zoom

In this talk, you’ll hear how Zoom uses the power of an AI-first work platform to improve care by enabling seamless communication across the continuum of health, meeting patients where they are, and keeping care teams connected, agile, and focused on better outcomes.

When Every Day Counts: Accelerating Clinical Decision Making with AI

Kevin Maupin, Grand Valley State University

In this talk, Kevin Maupin shares his personal journey navigating his son’s rare leukemia diagnosis, highlighting how data-driven insights can transform patient care. He explores how artificial intelligence has the potential to uncover hidden patterns in complex health data—spanning cancer, mental health, and beyond—to support clinical decision making and guide personalized therapies that improve outcomes and quality of life.

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