Vital, a digital health platform enhancing patient experiences with AI, has officially welcomed Bridget Duffy, MD, to its board of directors. Known for her trailblazing efforts in humanizing healthcare, Dr. Duffy brings a wealth of expertise in clinical leadership, digital transformation, and experience-driven care.
A Visionary in Healthcare Experience
Dr. Duffy is widely recognized as the healthcare industry’s first Chief Experience Officer (CXO), a role she pioneered at the Cleveland Clinic. Her work has consistently emphasized the importance of empathy, trust, and emotional connection in delivering exceptional clinical outcomes. She later co-founded ExperiaHealth, a company aimed at restoring humanity to healthcare, which was eventually acquired by Vocera Communications and then Stryker in 2022.
Her current work continues to inspire health systems to embrace digital and AI-powered solutions that prioritize both clinician well-being and patient satisfaction. She is also a co-founder of the CEO Coalition, a national initiative advocating for the psychological safety and well-being of healthcare workers.
Driving Human-Centered Innovation at Vital
“Dr. Duffy’s insights into experience design and clinician engagement are a perfect match for our mission,” said Aaron Patzer, CEO and founder of Vital. “Her leadership will help us accelerate our goal to streamline hospital workflows, reduce burnout, and elevate patient communication.”
Vital’s platform delivers real-time updates, educational materials, and next steps to patients and their families during hospital visits—without requiring app downloads or logins. The AI-powered system is already in use across leading U.S. health systems, enhancing efficiency, cutting emergency department wait times, and improving overall patient satisfaction scores.
Healthcare at a Crossroads
According to Dr. Duffy, “Healthcare is at a pivotal moment where we must choose innovation rooted in empathy. Vital is doing just that—bridging the gap between technology and human connection. I’m thrilled to support a team that is redesigning care experiences to be more transparent, personalized, and impactful.”
Dr. Duffy’s appointment underscores Vital’s commitment to building intelligent healthcare solutions that don’t just automate processes but also enhance the humanity of care delivery. This aligns with broader industry shifts toward AI governance and ethical innovation in healthcare and beyond.
Leadership Promotions Strengthen Vital’s Vision
In addition to Dr. Duffy’s board appointment, Vital announced two key internal promotions. Nicholas Sterling, MD, PhD, previously Director of Clinical Innovation and Research, has been elevated to Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO). Michael Rogozinski, who formerly served as Director of Clinical Quality and Innovation, now steps into the role of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).
These leadership moves further reinforce Vital’s mission: to create intuitive, AI-powered tools that simplify hospital processes while delivering compassionate, high-quality patient care.
