Inclusive by Design: How Digital Tools Are Shaping the Future of Health Communication
By: Diana Peña Gonzalez, MPH, MCHES
At this year’s conference, digital innovation took center stage as leaders explored a vital question: How can we design the future of health communication to be more inclusive, more human, and more equitable from the start? From visionary keynote speakers to hands-on sessions, three critical voices mapped out that future in powerful ways. Here are my top takeaways, along with new questions they inspired.
1. “Technology is the fastest, most scalable path to health equity.” —Jessica Brooks Woods
Jessica Brooks Woods emphasized that AI and digital tools can reshape health communication but only if equity is built into their design. She shared real-world examples like RISE Health Equity, an AI-powered tool that gives patients the language to advocate for themselves, and Doula AI, which helps expectant families navigate care with culturally responsive support.
These tools weren’t born from theory; they were built in direct response to lived experiences. They prove that technology can close gaps when it's rooted in community needs. Jessica reminded us that health literacy is a structural issue that demands structural solutions. When designed intentionally, digital tools can do more than inform—they can restore power, build trust, and create space for dignity in care.
Takeaways:
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Design with equity in mind. RISE and Doula AI show that inclusion starts by listening to real people, not just analyzing data.
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Technology can restore power. The right tools help patients feel seen and heard in moments when they often feel invisible.
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Health literacy is structural. It must be embedded in how systems operate—not treated as an afterthought.
The future of health communication, as Jessica showed, must be inclusive by design and meet people where they are so no one is left behind.
2. “You haven’t solved a problem until the people you claim to help are truly better off—permanently and measurably.” —Dr. Vivienne Ming
Dr. Vivienne Ming delivered a powerful message: True innovation means owning the whole problem, not just building a solution. Through her work designing predictive AI models for diabetes, postpartum depression, and equitable hiring, she showed how even well-intentioned tools can reinforce bias when developed without deep understanding.
Takeaways:
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Innovation without inclusion fails. We can’t build effective solutions without understanding the full human experience.
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Tech isn’t the answer, understanding is. Algorithms can harm when they reflect narrow worldviews or partial data.
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Own the outcome. It’s not enough to build a tool; we must ensure it actually improves lives.
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Smart teams outperform genius teams. Small, diverse, and collaborative groups drive better results.
Reflection: How can we know we’ve understood the full problem before jumping to a solution?
3. “The goal isn’t to replace human interaction—but to free up providers to do what only they can do: connect, guide, and care.” —Dr. Linda Civerelli
In one of the most visually engaging sessions, Dr. Linda Civerelli introduced House Call VR, a startup using virtual reality to teach health concepts in ways that transcend language, literacy, and even age. Imagine traveling through your own pancreas to understand insulin resistance—that’s the level of immersion they’re creating.
Takeaways:
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VR increased patient knowledge by up to 40% in some studies.
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Older adults embraced technology and retained more information.
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Tools must be designed for simplicity, empathy, and scalability.
What this sparked: Questions—so many questions. What other barriers could VR help overcome? How do we ensure equity in access to these technologies?
What these sessions made clear is that technology alone won't solve health inequities—but when designed with intention, empathy, and inclusion, it can accelerate real change. Whether it’s an AI tool that gives patients a voice, a VR experience that makes complex science understandable, or a bold reminder to truly own the problems we claim to solve, the message is the same: Health communication must be inclusive by design, not by default.
As we move forward, the challenge isn’t just to build more tools—it’s to build better ones. Ones that reflect lived experiences, honor diverse needs, and help people not just navigate the system, but transform it.
About the Author:
Diana Peña Gonzalez, MPH, MCHES, is the Health Literacy Education Director at the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA). With over a decade of experience, she specializes in making health communication more accessible, inclusive, and equity-driven.
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