WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 25, 2019 — TheAmerican Telemedicine Association (ATA) today announced the election of Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, as President-Elect. Dr. Kvedar is Vice President of Connected Health at Partners HealthCare, and Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kvedar previously served as President of ATA from 2004-2005, and was a member of the Board of Directors from 2002-2006.

“ATA has a renewed approach and a clear vision, to integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models, focusing on the whole patientand collaboration between care settings. Telehealth offerings perfectly align with these new models, extending capacity and access to personalized, quality care, where and when the patient needs it,” said Dr. Kvedar. “I welcome the opportunity to beat the drum on telehealth adoption and look forward to working with the ATA board and our members, partners and other industry leaders, to create the right market conditions, increase awareness and support necessary policy and reimbursement guidelines to accelerate telehealth adoption over the next three to five years.” 

Dr. Kvedar will become President for a year-long term beginning in April 2020, succeeding John Glaser, PhD, Executive Senior Advisor, Cerner, who will become Immediate Past President. 

For more than two decades, Dr. Kvedar has focused on leveraging personal health technologies to improve care delivery and help providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. He has launched a number of innovative health tracking programs, digital health, virtual care initiatives and clinical research programs for the more than 1.5 million patients served at Partners HealthCare-affiliated hospitals, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the author of two books on the subject: The New Mobile Age: How Technology Will Extend the Healthspan and Optimize the Lifespan(2017) and The Internet of Healthy Things(2015), and more than 1,000 publications.

“Dr. Joe Kvedar is a true pioneer, recognized physician leader and author with an innovative vision and deep experience in the development, adoption and application of technology-enabled health and wellness,” said Ann Mond Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, ATA. “As our industry continues to evolve, creating new opportunities and challenges, I can think of no one better to help us navigate these changes and lead ATA into the future than Dr. Kvedar. He brings a unique combination of the history and a forward-thinking approach to ATA.”

“Partners HealthCare has long supported innovation and the application of technology to solve some of our most vexing care delivery challenges. All the while, Joe Kvedar has been our beacon, leading the way to what are now practice standards at our provider institutions,” added Gregg Meyer, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Partners HealthCare. “He is a pragmatic and dogged visionary, and we are proud to have him lend his voice to ATA in support of widespread telehealth adoption.”

Internationally recognized for his leadership and vision in the field of connected health, Dr. Kvedar currently serves on the Editorial Board of npj Digital Medicine, a NatureResearch journal. The cHealth Blogprovides his insights and vision for connected health. Dr. Kvedar is co-chair of the American Medical Association’s Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group; and a member of the Board of Xcertia, a collaboration between AHA, AMA, DHX Group and HIMSS dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and effectiveness of mobile health applications (apps). 

About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the ATA is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.

CONTACT:         
Gina Cella
Cella Communications 
gcella@cellapr.com
t: 857-239-9198

Amy Gaddis
ATA
agaddis@americantelemed.org
t: 202-258-0204