UHealth at eMerge Americas 2025
UHealth is getting high-tech at eMerge Americas, the one-of-a-kind tech hub that connects innovators from every corner of the tech industry looking to network, learn, grow and scale. We’re providing onsite coverage.
Leveraging AI to Detect Neurological Disease
UHealth wrapped up its presence at eMerge Americas with a panel led by Itsham U. Haq, M.D., professor and chief of Movement Disorders in the Miller School’s Department of Neurology. Partnering with Slalom and Amazon Web Services, Dr. Haq highlighted AI’s potential in detecting neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease earlier than ever before.
In the partnership, Dr. Haq created a protype for a new, cloud-based technology which will allow patients to record and send movement exercises typically performed in neurology spaces. AI would capture these movements and, in the backend, make note of any regression or progression based on standardized guidelines. As physicians get the data in real time, they will be able to adjust patient care, as necessary.
“The first sign of change in brain deterioration occurs in movement,” Dr. Haq said. “With 55 million people affected by dementia and 1 million new Parkinson’s diagnoses each year, early detection is critical. Current diagnoses take about two years, but AI could help identify signs 10 to 15 years before symptoms appear.”
The earlier detection takes place, the sooner physicians can begin treatment.
Dr. Haq envisions AI as a force multiplier, uncovering unexpected insights and accelerating research. The first prototype of the technology was created in only three months and could be implemented in as few as six months on a mass scale, potentially making AI-driven screening a standard tool in neurological care.
How Technology is Propelling Cancer Prevention
Cancer risk decreases with a personalized approach. A panel featuring Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and executive dean for research at the Miller School, Tracy E. Crane, Ph.D., R.D.N., director of lifestyle medicine, prevention and digital health, and co-lead of Sylvester’s Cancer Control Program, and Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins discussed how wearable technology can lead to predictive health outcomes and decrease cancer risk.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Nimer explained how big data can be harnessed to identify cancer risk, the genetic factors that can impact health and the importance of staying on track with annual screenings. Dr. Crane brought wearable technologies to the discussion, from rings to smartphones, and talked about their role in cancer prevention.
“The everyday technology we wear constantly intersects with us,” Dr. Crane said. “Since 40% of cancers can be attributed to a lack of exercise and poor diet, these devices can have us analyze patterns and provide an additional layer for precision prevention.”
Data can precisely read patient health, from sleep patterns to stress and activity levels. In turn, patients are placed in the driver’s seat to make actionable changes in their health, an area with which Phillips is in tune.
“For an athlete, performance is paramount,” Phillips said. “Using concrete data will allow the individual to make decisions essential to their well-being.”
The Veggie Meter® and Cancer Risk
A small, portable scanner, the Veggie Meter allows people to easily measure fruit and vegetable intake within the last month. This tool is just one of the many ways Sylvester is using technology in patient education and cancer prevention.
The Veggie Meter reads the pigments stored in the skin attributable to food intake. On average, Americans score in the 200s. A person with a balanced intake of fruits and vegetables will be in the 400s and up.
“The model works by reading the fat-soluble pigments in the skin within the last three weeks from carrots, mangos and the like,” Dr. Crane said. “It’s a powerful tool, as it can help individuals become motivated to make better lifestyle changes in their diet that, in turn, can reduce cancer reoccurrence and prevention.”
Revolutionizing Cardiology
AI is revolutionizing cardiology with speed, precision and efficiency, according to Yiannis Chatzizisis, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chief of the Cardiovascular Division at the Miller School. From research labs to interventional procedures, AI enhances risk prediction, improves diagnostics and optimizes treatment planning.
AI-driven simulations are accelerating research, device development and FDA approvals while transforming medical education. Trainees learn faster and more precisely, reducing trial and error. With AI-powered headsets, visualization enhances understanding, ensuring the next generation adapts to technological advances.
“We now use AI tools to predict cardiovascular risks, refine procedures and enhance patient care,” Dr. Chatzizisis said. “AI democratizes medicine, bringing expertise to everyone, beyond borders and limitations, as our goal is to establish this university as a hub for pioneering AI in research and clinical decision-making.”
Top 10: UHealth IT’s Aggressive AI Project Scale
Companies that invest in artificial intelligence projects typically work on 10 or so at a time. UHealth exceeds the norm. The IT team has completed 155 AI projects, with 40 in the works. The health system is in the top 10% of AI users in health care.
“It starts with our leadership wanting us to set the standard as fast movers and become early adaptors of this changing landscape,” said David Reis, Ph.D., the University of Miami’s senior vice president and chief information and digital officer. “Our board, clinician and operational levels have given us the support to achieve such a volume in AI and embrace what the organization wants to be known for in this sphere.”
UHealth AI projects include voice detection to better direct patient phone calls and projects to reduce implicit bias in voice language models for Spanish speakers. Dr. Reis also envisions robotics playing an essential role in health care, a common theme among UHealth’s eMerge Americas presenters.
“Theres no reason to do this, if it’s not for the benefit of the patient,” Dr. Reis said. “We want to make technology accessible for patients and are currently at the dawn of personalized medicine.”
Multi-institutional Collaborations in Urology
How can urology improve and innovate in the 21st century? Multi-institutional collaborations that improve patient outcomes are the key, according to Jonathan Katz, M.D., assistant professor of urology at Desai Sethi Urology Institute (DUI).
DSUI is constantly looking ahead to identify ways patients can benefit from emerging technologies, including collaboration with the University of Miami Department of Computer Science on an operating room surgical assistant for kidney stone procedures.
“The patient benefits from this assistance because the procedure is safer and standardized for their best possible outcome,” Dr. Katz said. “We are also in the process of using emotional monitoring to better assess patient satisfaction. I can see, from the early implementations of our innovative efforts, that the patient population sees technology as a step forward as we make the future of medicine safe and reproducible.”
Creating a Personalized Medical Ecosystem
Miami is more than just a top tourist attraction. UHealth is making it a top-tier hub of medical care and innovation.
“We are building out our technologic ecosystem in a city that is rich with world-class research and expertise,” said Azizi Seixas, Ph.D., director of The Media and Innovation Lab, associate director of the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences and interim chair of the Department of Informatics and Health Data Science at the Miller School. “Miami serves as capital of innovation by focusing on meaningful advancements where we can develop the next generation of technology to support communities in need.”
This initiative is an outgrowth of efforts to position Miami as a leader in health tech, with academic health centers playing a crucial role in the transformation. Dr. Seixas’ work has already made its mark with innovations such as the MilBox, a remote monitoring solution equipped with seven digital devices, including smartwatches and rings, that provide critical health indicators. The MilBox enhances precision and personalization in health care by creating a foundational data system for a digital twin—a biological algorithm that helps determine a patient’s most effective medications and treatments.
“With an 88% compliance rate—compared to the industry norm of just 30%—we’ve achieved remarkable engagement by leveraging an AI-powered video system that educates users, builds trust and ensures they understand how the technology works,” Dr. Seixas said. “At its core, this is about patient education and empowerment.”
Neurosurgery Precision Medicine: The Future Is Now
Precision medicine remains a topic of note with UHealth’s interactive session on precision neurosurgery. On stage, in a modern neurosurgical consultation room, a patient and doctor discuss the patient’s case as an interactive model of her spine is on display.
Through precision medicine and AI, the spine is analyzed to best guide screw placement during surgery. This practice leads to minimum impact with maximum benefit, and optimum care for the patient.
“We can expect to enhance the patient experience with good outcomes and fast recovery,” said Michael Monterey, M.D., a UHealth neurological surgeon and member of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Miller School. “By using robotics, we are mitigating risk and adding more personalization for pre- and post-operative cases.”
Breaking Barriers: AI & Robotics in Paralysis
UHealth/Jackson Health System experts join a panel for an interactive conversation on how innovation impacts paralysis care. Currently, therapy discovery is challenging, due to the body’s inability to repair itself from the damage that results in paralysis.
“Because we don’t know how to drive the central nervous system to repair itself, we need to teach the nervous system to develop new roots,” said Leslie Morse, D.O., chair in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Miller School. “Neuromodulation is one of the key therapies that drives rewiring and an area we are dedicating resources to further develop.”
In collaboration with Onward Medical, the Miller School is working on research devices and clinical trials that are safe and efficient for patients. The key, explained Dr. Morse, is for all the stakeholders – clinicians, researchers, device makers and patients – to work together in moving the field forward.
“I’ve been in a chair for 37 years and to see these advances in the pipeline is priceless,” said Alan Brown from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. “It’s good to know there is hope, as doors are opening for companies to invest and physicians to have pathways for cures.”
A New Era of Transplant Surgery
With organ transplantation, time is of the essence. At the Miami Transplant Institute, a joint program between UHealth and Jackson Health System, physicians are using robotics to increase transplant precision.
“We believe robotics is the future of surgery,” said Luke Preczewski, vice president of the Miami Transplant Institute. “Here at the MTI, we are pioneers in pancreatic robotic transplants easing the surgical procedure of the patient with smaller, precise incisions.”
On stage, a mock interaction between a physician and kidney transplant patient Illustrates the benefits of a robotic approach. The physician shows the patient how the surgeon will still be in control of the entire operation, but with robotic assistance. The technology contributes to enhanced precision, less trauma and quicker healing for the patient.
Normothermic perfusion pumps are also changing how organs are preserved. Rather than being bagged in ice, this technology keeps the organ flowing with blood and oxygenated, leading to better preservation.
Understanding the Future of Genetic Testing
Advancements in medicine can benefit patients are young as newborns. At Holtz Children’s Hospital, part of the Jackson Health System, genetic testing is being offered to babies as soon as they are born, even if they are premature or have an underlying condition.
Rather than having a baby spend up to six months in the NICU, genetic sequencing can decrease that time to as few as three days. Genetic sequencing uses DNA and RNA to get an accurate reading of inherited diseases and predict how premature babies will respond to treatments and scan for rare conditions that don’t show up in routing testing.
“We are implementing a roadmap for continuous optimization for the best possible health,” said Pankaj Agrawal, M.D., chief of the division of neonatology at Jackson Health System and professor of clinical pediatrics and genetics at the Miller School. “This testing saves money, time and pain for the families as they deal with the child’s unknown condition. We are harnessing technology like never before to advance health care.”
AI in Medicine: Your Surgical Journey
While injuries can, at times, be an unavoidable occurrence, getting the proper care is essential. Orthopedic care at UHealth provides patients with experts in academic medicine and incorporates technology into patient care.
To better showcase how technology aids orthopedic care, various acts took place, starting with an injured patient at home having a virtual visit with her provider located in another medical center. The interaction showed the convenience of a custom virtual visit, while still providing the patient a humanistic touch. As the patient navigated her health care journey, examples of how UHealth’s orthopaedic care is making a difference were highlighted.
UHealth uses AI assistants to help the patient, starting with a preoperative checklist. Using VR headsets, the patient walks through how their operation will unfold, further easing their nerves before the operation with a personalized surgical plan walkthrough.
Technological care doesn’t just end after the surgery. UHealth Orthopaedics is further using AI technology in recovery guidelines, physical therapy reminders and access to the care team, if needed.
“Our technology continues to evolve as we incorporate assistance, triage concerns and check-ins,” said Michael Rizzo, M.D., a UHealth orthopaedic surgeon. “Health care is a personalized field, with AI and other technologies used to augment patient care to make time for a deeper interaction with the patient and provider.”
Inside the Eye: A Patient’s Journey
As the number one eye hospital in the nation, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute continues to lead ophthalmology to new heights. UHealth begins its eMerge presence with “Inside the Eye: A Patient’s Journey,” an interaction that demonstrates how digital screens and artificial intelligence can help patients better understand their conditions.
In the scene, a patient with macular degeneration uses a VR headset tailored to the condition. The doctor guides the patient through an immersive experience through the interior of the eye, with visuals changing as the patient tours his digital eye, moving from the cornea to the anterior chamber and optic nerve. The scene ends with the doctor and patient discussing a custom treatment plan, using digital screens to guide the process.
“Here at Bascom Palmer, we are developing a VR prototype for patients to see what is happening in the eye and save vision,” said Giselle Ricur, M.D., executive director for virtual care at Bascom Palmer. “I believe if we give the patient a tangible experience, they can better understand their condition and become more compliant with their treatments. The future of medicine is truly amazing and we are so proud at Bascom Palmer to be a part of it.”
Telehealth in Practice
Telehealth is a reality many health care systems are implementing into patient care. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute stays ahead of the curve with its many innovative projects, including rapid virtual eye care. Through this digital implementation, patients can be seen the same day or within 24 hours by licensed ophthalmologists through a self-scheduled system.
“This is giving us a new touchpoint to care,” Dr. Ricur said. “Telehealth is about not having barriers, giving patients access to experts in their condition at their own space and time. As for the future, patient-centered care continues to be the driving force of what we do and its where telehealth makes a difference.”
Bascom Palmer will add AI, portable technology, and medical extended reality to its innovation portfolio to personalize treatment and offer faster and more accurate care.
UHealth Takes the Stage
The stage is set as UHealth—the University of Miami Health System is leading two days of cutting-edge advancements with partner Jackson Health System, as we cosponsor the Healthtech Innovation Hub at eMerge Americas 2025. UHealth is staging the “theater of the minds,” with actors illustrating, in a series of engaging skits, how the health system is leveraging technology to enhance patient care.
After each performance, physicians from UHealth are sharing how they advance patient care using the latest technology and what’s right around the corner in a variety of specialties.
Tags: AI, artificial intelligence, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, eMerge Americas, Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation, ophthalmology, technology, virtual reality