Research Area
Digital Health Transformation
Examining telemedicine, health information systems, collective intelligence, and the digitization of healthcare delivery.
Overview
The digital transformation of healthcare creates both opportunities and challenges. Our research examines how digital technologies—from telemedicine to health information systems to collective intelligence platforms—can improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
Key areas of investigation include:
- Telemedicine & virtual care: Evaluating the effectiveness, equity, and optimal implementation of telehealth services
- Health information systems: Studying how data flows, EHR design, and interoperability affect care quality
- Collective intelligence: Exploring how aggregating clinical judgment can improve diagnostic accuracy
- Digital health equity: Ensuring digital health innovations benefit all populations, including those with limited digital access
- Community health digitization: Supporting community-based organizations in adopting digital health tools
Active Projects
Digital Health for Maternal and Child Care
Mobile health platforms and evidence-based curricula to improve maternal and child health outcomes through community health worker interventions in developing countries.
Diabetes Prevention Program Implementation Study
Community-based implementation of the CDC Diabetes Prevention Program with El Centro Hispano
Related Publications
View all publicationsEffect of an mHealth-Supported Healthy Future Programme to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Management in Nairobi, Kenya: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Chen, Huanhuan, Ndegwa, Stephen, Kwaro, Daniel, Otieno, Walter, Oyugi, Elizabeth, Sylvia, Sean (2023)
The Lancet Global Health
Evaluation of a Village-Based Digital Health Kiosks Program: Evidence from Two Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trials
Cheng, Fei, Yip, Winnie, Zhu, Yue, Sylvia, Sean (2022)
Health Policy and Planning
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac072Innovative Approaches of Measuring Care Quality in China's Market for Telemedicine
Cheng, Fei, Zeng, Tongxin, Sylvia, Sean, Chen, Xi (2024)
China Economic Review
DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102320Factors Influencing Adoption and Use of Telemedicine Services among Primary-Care Physicians and Patients in Rural China: A Qualitative Study
Du, Yang, Xu, Changzheng, Yip, Winnie, Sylvia, Sean (2022)
BMJ Open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059438Dynamic Information Sub-Selection for Decision Support
Huang, Jingdong, Galal, Galal, Anderson, Erik, Chiang, Sharon, Goldstein, Benjamin, Marks, Michael, Sylvia, Sean (2024)
Proceedings of Machine Learning Research
Collective Intelligence-Based Participatory Surveillance for Infectious Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study in Ghana
Marley, Gifty, Dako-Gyeke, Phyllis, Nepal, Prajwol, Rajgopal, Rohini, Koko, Evelyn, Chen, Elizabeth, Nuamah, Kwabena, Osei, Kingsley, Hofkirchner, Hubertus, Marks, Michael, Tucker, Joseph D., Eggo, Rosalind, Ampofo, William, Sylvia, Sean (2024)
JMIR Infodemiology
DOI: 10.2196/50125Quality of Telemedicine Consultations for Sexually Transmitted Infections in China: A Standardized Patient Study
Si, Lei, Xue, Hao, Tucker, Joseph D., Sylvia, Sean (2024)
PLOS Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Health Care
Sylvia, Sean, Oliva, Junier (2024)
North Carolina Medical Journal
DOI: 10.18043/001c.120561Tools & Platforms
CareLoom (Healthy Future)
Open-source platform for community health workers delivering maternal and child health home visiting programs, with AI-enhanced content recommendations.
Sentinel Information Markets
Information market-based participatory surveillance platform for public health monitoring, enabling community-driven early warning systems for disease outbreaks in LMICs.
Community Partners
Our digital health transformation research is grounded in partnerships with community organizations working to improve health in underserved populations.
Partner With Us
We work with community organizations, health systems, and technology partners to advance digital health innovation that benefits all communities.