We build a foundation for artificial intelligence that enhances care for our patients, supports our teams, and upholds MedStar Health’s values.
The MedStar Health Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AI Center) brings together clinical, research, and digital innovation experts to advance the safe, effective, and ethical use of AI in health care. The AI Center reflects MedStar Health’s commitment to innovation and to the highest standards for care, safety, equity, and accountability.
Our work is rooted in collaboration. The MedStar Institute for Innovation, MedStar Health Research Institute, and MedStar Health Digital Transformation teams partner to run the daily operations of the AI Center, consulting regularly with governance leaders, working groups, and other contributors.
What we do
The AI Center guides how AI is evaluated and introduced across the system. Our team advances strategy, governance, and education to ensure AI is both reviewed and adopted responsibly.
The AI Center helps ensure that AI technologies used within MedStar Health are:
- Safe and clinically appropriate, grounded in clear governance criteria
- Ethically and equitably deployed, with attention to fairness and bias
- Operationally effective, delivering measurable value in efficiency, safety, and accuracy
- Sustainably managed, with processes for monitoring, feedback, and continuous improvement
Below is a brief look at the focus areas and collaborators that carry this work forward.
Strategy and scope
Across MedStar Health, the AI Center supports initiatives that apply AI to practical challenges in care delivery and operations. In addition to providing strategy, governance, and education, the AI Center also designs, develops, builds, and implements AI-enabled solutions that address real-world needs across the system. These efforts range from tools that support clinical documentation and workflow efficiency, to models that help identify patients who may need early intervention, to secure internal systems that enable staff to use information more effectively.
The AI Center ensures initiatives are evaluated within real clinical and operational workflows and integrated thoughtfully across the system. By aligning efforts with strategic priorities and existing technology-enabled environments, the AI Center supports solutions that are reliable, scalable, and appropriate for use within MedStar Health’s care settings.
Structure and governance
Responsible AI use requires a strong and consistent governance framework. The AI Center manages systemwide governance processes, bringing together team expertise with system clinical operations, compliance, ethics, and data governance leadership. This cross-functional collaboration helps ensure that AI initiatives are evaluated thoroughly and aligned with organizational standards and values.
A core component of this framework is the AI Review Board (AIRB). The AIRB provides formal evaluation of proposed AI tools and use cases against our TRUSTED framework described below, reviewing their purpose, benefits, risks, and implementation context. Based on risk and impact, the AIRB determines the appropriate level of assessment so that AI technologies are introduced responsibly and consistently across the system, ranging from streamlined review, to deeper analysis, to ongoing monitoring when appropriate.
Education and resources
The AI Center supports systemwide education by providing clear, accessible information that helps associates understand how AI works, how it can be applied responsibly, and what safeguards are in place. This shared foundation supports more consistent decision-making and helps teams engage with AI in ways that are informed, appropriate, and aligned with MedStar Health’s standards.
To support this work, the AI Center maintains an internal AI Resource Hub as the system’s central source for AI-related education and guidance. The Hub brings together learning materials, practical resources, and updates that help internal audiences understand not only how to use AI tools, but also when and why review is required. Together, these resources promote a shared understanding of responsible AI use and support consistent, informed adoption across the system. Internal associates can contact AICenter@medstar.net with questions about access.
Every AI solution introduced at MedStar Health is evaluated by our multidisciplinary AI Review Board using the TRUSTED framework, detailed below. This externally-established, industry-supported approach ensures AI solutions meet the highest standards for safety, equity, and effectiveness.
- Trustworthy: AI model outputs are proven accurate and expected outcomes have been validated in real use. Efficacy, accuracy, intended use, risks, and limitations are clearly communicated to stakeholders.
- Responsible: Ownership is defined for the AI solution’s actions, decisions, and any consequences resulting from its recommendations or analyses. This includes providing appropriate human oversight.
- User-Centric: The AI solution easily integrates within existing systems, processes, and workflows. It is intuitive and enhances, rather than disrupts, the user's operations.
- Secure: Protective measures are in place to guard against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats.
- Transparent: We know how the AI models work and the training data is clear. We are aware of appropriate use cases, risks, and limitations (e.g., populations for which the solution is less reliable).
- Equitable: The AI solution works fairly for everyone, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. AI decisions are made without unwarranted bias and everyone has equal access to its benefits.
- Dependable: The AI solution performs reliably, accurately, and consistently when used.
AI Center leadership
The following leaders oversee AI Center governance processes, prioritization, and cross-departmental collaboration.
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Chief Medical Information Officer, MedStar Institute for Innovation
Medical Director, Information Innovation Lab, MedStar Institute for Innovation -
Vice President, Information Innovation Lab, MedStar Institute for Innovation
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Chief Research Information Officer
Co-Director, Center for Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science -
Vice President, Enterprise Access and Digital Transformation
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Vice President of Scientific Affairs for MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI)
Director of the MedStar Health National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare -
Vice President, Digital Transformation and Enterprise Access Programs & Strategy
Additional subject matter expertise
To realize the transformative potential of AI in health care, MedStar Health is committed to building a robust team of experts to execute on AI priorities and grow internal capabilities. The AI Center combines expertise across the full AI lifecycle, from model development and validation to production deployment and ongoing monitoring.
Our governance and working groups
AI Executive Steering Committee
The following executives provide systemwide direction informing AI Center strategy and execution and ensuring alignment with MedStar Health priorities and values.
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Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Transformation Officer
MedStar Health -
Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, MedStar Health, and Executive Director, MedStar Institute for Innovation
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Vice President, Strategic & Business Planning
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Vice President, Talent and Organizational Effectiveness
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Vice President, Performance Improvement and Analytics
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Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer
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Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
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Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
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President, MedStar Health Research Institute, and Chief Scientific Officer, MedStar Health
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President, MedStar Medical Group
AI Center Working Groups
MedStar Health established several cross-disciplinary working groups to shape the direction, development, and systemwide readiness for AI efforts. Following are the AI Working Groups’ focus areas:
Contact the AI Center
MedStar Health associates and external collaborators can contact the AI Center via our shared inbox at AICenter@medstar.net to request additional information or connection, learn how to access the (internal only) AI Hub, or explore other inquiries.
Frequently asked questions
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How does MedStar Health ensure safe AI use?AI tools proposed for use at MedStar Health go through structured evaluation that considers clinical relevance, safety, and fairness. Only tools that meet these standards are cleared for use by the AI Review Board.
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Does the AI Center partner with outside organizations?Yes. When appropriate, the AI Center collaborates with universities, industry partners, and research groups to explore new ideas and catalyze innovation.
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How can associates learn about AI?MedStar Health associates can access the internal AI Resource Hub for learning materials, AI concept overviews, and updates on current initiatives. Associates with questions about AI use can submit them through the Hub’s “share your feedback and input” section. To learn more about how to access the Hub or to request a speaker, please email AICenter@medstar.net.
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Which AI technologies does MedStar Health use?
MedStar Health uses a range of tools that support documentation, highlight early clinical risks, assist with data interpretation, and simplify everyday workflows. Examples include:
- Ambient documentation solutions that reduce clinician administrative burden
- Predictive models to identify and alert care teams about patient risks earlier
- Internal platforms that help associates safely leverage generative AI
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How can I learn more about MedStar Health’s AI research and innovation?Updates are primarily shared through the AI Resource Hub (an internal resource for MedStar Health associates), as well as the MedStar Institute for Innovation and MedStar Health Research Institute platforms.