Health TechQuity Conference

Health TechQuity

Health TechQuity 2026: Technology for Health Equity will be the 2nd annual conference at San José State University dedicated to advancing health technologies and their application to eliminate disparities and achieve health equity. This groundbreaking event will serve as a critical platform for cross-sector dialogue on the far-reaching implications of technological innovation. This will encompass wellness, enhanced disease prevention, access, and alternatives to effective treatment. Health TechQuity 2026 will include dynamic keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, and collaborative sessions focused on:

How technological innovation contributes positively and negatively to health equity, and how to maximize the positive contributions while minimizing the negative through emerging model technologies in predictive analytics and telehealth
Developing collaborative networks from industry, care delivery, community organizations, and academia
Exploring trends in the rapid development and deployment of innovations that support health equity

Date: March 4 - 5, 2026
Event Location: Diaz Compean Student Union, San Jose State University Campus

Theme: Behavioral Health in the Age of Emerging Technology

Health TechQuity Summit - Tentative Schedule

Day 1: March 4th, 2026, 8:30am to 5:00pm | Foundations, Tensions, & Possibilities

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Check-in & Morning Reception

Light breakfast, coffee, and networking

9:00 am - 9:50 am: Welcome & Framing

Speakers:

NIMHD's Perspectives on Technology in the Behavioral Health Equity Frontier: Dr. Monica Webb Hooper, Ph.D. (awaiting NIH approval), Acting Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
California's Behavioral Health Transformation: Progress and Vision: Marlies Perez, MA (confirmed), Behavioral Health Transformation Project Executive, California Department of Health Care Services
Ideas into Action: Dr. Russell Shilling, Ph.D. - Senior Innovation Advisor, ShillingForge Consulting, LLC.
Orientation and Overview Health TechQuity: Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz, Ph.D.

10:00 am - 11:30 am: Opening Panel: Population Behavioral Health

(Thinker) Dr. Brendon Hale, Ph.D. - Chief Science and Product Officer, Sidekick Wellness Platform
(Innovator) Dr. Trevor van Mierlo, Ph.D. - CEO/Founder Evolution Health
(Innovator) Anupam Khandelwal - CEO and Co-Founder SageSurfer
(Doer) Michael B. Scates - President and CEO, Momentum for Health
(Moderator) Kunal Sampat - Director, Biotechnology, San José State University; Host, Clinical Trial Podcast

Format: Moderated Discussion + Q&A

11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Break & Lunch

Grab Your Box Lunch

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Session 1A: Applied Dialogue & Networking Lunch

Title: Implementation of California's Behavioral Health Transformation

Structure: Short 15-minute talks + Moderated Discussion + Lunch

(Innovator) Dr. Guy Tsafnt, Ph.D. - Founder & CEO Evidentli
(Thinker) Marlies Perez, MA - Chief of Community Services, California Department of Health Care Services
(Doer) Ria Paul, M.D. - Chief Medical Officer, Santa Clara Valley Health Plan
(Doer) Ryan Mosley - Medi-Cal Enterprise Systems Modernization Division Chief, Behavioral Health Transformation Project Director, California Department of Health Care Services
(Moderator) TBD

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Session 1B: Applied Dialogue & Networking Lunch

Title: Digital Tools for Loneliness in Special Populations (Older Adults & People with ASD)

Structure: Short (15 minutes) Talks + Moderated Discussion + Lunch

(Innovator) Victor Wang - Co-founder, Friendi.fi
(Thinker) Dr. Lawrence Quill, Ph.D. - False Starts and Ongoing Proglems
(Doer) Dr. Lauren Libero, Ph.D. - Autism Services Branch Lead, California Department of Developmental Services
(Doer) Dr. Alison Giannini, Ph.D. - Aging Services Branch Manager, California Department of Developmental Services
(Moderator) Dr. Julia Scott, Ph.D. - Santa Clara University

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm: Break

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Working Session 2A: Emerging Topics & Tools

Title: Digital Twins: An Emerging Behavioral Health Tool

Structure: 3 Short (15-minute) Talks + Moderated Discussion

(Innovator) Tony Clark - Founder and CEO at 2-Dooz, Inc.
(Thinker) Dr. Amir Rahmani, Ph.D. - Professor, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine
(Doer) TBD
(Moderator) Kunal Sampat - Director, Biotechnology, San José State University; Host, Clinical Trial Podcast

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Working Session 2B: Emerging Topics & Tools

Title: Strategies for Advancing Women's Health

Structure: 3 Short (15-minute) Talks + Moderated Discussion

(Innovator) Georgie Drury, CoFounder & CEO MetLuma
(Thinker) Dr. Kasuen Mauldin, Ph.D. - Professor of Nutrition, Food Science & Packaging, San José State University
(Doer) Tony Maddox
(Moderator) Dr. Sohela Shah, Ph.D. - Director, Catalyst Program & Invent Fund, University of California, San Francisco

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Session 2: Innovation Spotlight

Title: Innovations That Could Close a Gap

Innovators:

Carol (Care-All), Junaid Ahmed (Confirmed)
Emotional Robot I, Dr. Behin Elahi
Emotional Robot II, Dr. Behin Elahi
Positive Approach XR, Nora Reder, Student Developer, University of California, Berkeley
FairScan, Christelle Mombo-Zigah, CEO & CoFounder
Biometric Trafikking, Harold Francisco

Panelists:

Jon Warner, CEO of CareAxis, Inc, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Dealstream, US Ambassador, Global Health Director
Dr. Russell Shilling, Ph.D. - Senior Innovation Advisor, ShillingForge Consulting, LLC.
SPART-UP Panelist

4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Reflections + Day 1 Wrap

Facilitated Synthesis of Key Insights

Invite contributions to Equity-in-Tech Ideas Wall

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Evening Reception & Networking Mixer

Hosted reception with appetizers and drinks

Informal remarks and suggested conversation themes
Optional showcase of community-rooted behavioral health orgs or startups
Optional student showcase

Day 2: March 5th, 2026, 8:30am to 12:00pm | Synthesis, Strategy, and Action

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Check-in & Morning Reception

Coffee and Networking

9:00 am - 9:50 am: Opening Plenary

Title: Sticky Issues in Digital Solutions to Behavioral and Mental Health Equity

Structure: Short (15 minutes) talks + Moderated Discussion

Funding through the 340B Pharmacy Policy: Dr. Sunita Desai, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Models of Academic-Industry Partnerships in Health Tech: Dr. Prashanth Asuri, Ph.D., Professor of Bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Director of Santa Clara’s Healthcare Innovation and Design Program, Santa Clara University

10:00 am - 11:30 am: Session 2A: Nitty-Gritty Issues

Title: What Will it Take to Scale Equitable Solutions?

Format: Fireside Chat Panel

Participants:

Dr. Trevor van Mierlo, Ph.D. - CEO/Founder Evolution Health
Soody Tronson, M.S., J.D. - Senior Counsel, STLG Law Firm
Dr. Russell Shilling, Ph.D. - Senior Innovation Advisor, ShillingForge Consulting, LLC.
Dr. Kakoli Banerjee, MPA, Ph.D. - Director of Planning, Development, & Implementation, Pathways Society, Santa Clara County
Eisha Buch, M.S., Head of Teaching and Learning, Common Sense Media

10:00 am - 11:30 am: Session 2B: Looking Forward

Title: Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce, Today

Format: Fireside Chat or Panel