Years ago, Dr. Hemda Chen witnessed the stark reality of healthcare disparities in underserved communities, where lack of access to personalized care was exacerbating health outcomes, particularly for those at high risk. This eye-opening experience showed Dr. Chen the way she would devote her life to reshaping healthcare for the better. These experiences taught Dr. Chen about the power that emerges when innovative medical practices align with personalized patient-focused healthcare to generate permanent transformations in care delivery.
As the Chief Medical Officer at Moovcare® by Sivan, she led the charge in revolutionizing cancer care through digital health solutions. Her work at Moovcare® is a direct extension of this passion—developing advanced technological solutions which give patients essential early warning detection capabilities and proactive disease management platforms for lung cancer. Through her experience in clinical pharmacology and oncology, Dr. Chen brings together her expertise to push life-saving treatments forward while making these advancements available with proven real-world effectiveness. Under her leadership cancer care continues to evolve, especially for areas lacking healthcare resources, thus bringing improved outlooks for patients across the globe.
Let’s delve into the interview details below!
Can you share your professional journey, and your inspiration to join Moovcare® by Sivan, particularly in the innovative digital health and oncology space?
I began my career with a PharmD specializing in internal medicine, which led me to my first role as a clinical pharmacologist in Jaffa. There, I focused on improving health outcomes for underserved populations, particularly addressing cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. These communities faced significant barriers to healthcare and high risks of complications.
This experience solidified my commitment to personalized, patient-centric care. By working closely with the healthcare team, we achieved notable improvements in clinical outcomes—HbA1c, LDL, and blood pressure—while reducing hospitalizations. These results were published, demonstrating the value of tailored medical solutions in high-risk populations.
Driven by this success, I founded my own private clinic, specializing in individualized medication management to maximize efficacy and minimize risks. I then expanded my expertise in drug development and clinical research through roles in the pharmaceutical industry, including serving as Medical Director at Bioline. There, I led a phase 3 study for a novel oncology drug, managing everything from protocol writing and site selection to FDA submission.
Continuing my journey, I joined Moovcare®, where I contributed to developing a digital health solution for monitoring and detecting lung cancer. Collaborating with international experts, we created an advanced algorithm, clinically validated through randomized controlled trials, proving its high sensitivity and specificity in early cancer detection. This experience deepened my dedication to leveraging technology to enhance patient care and outcomes.
As a medical leader in the digital health industry how do you see digital patient monitoring transforming cancer care, particularly in light of the improved overall survival rates observed in clinical studies?
Digital health is undoubtedly the future of healthcare. It offers tremendous potential in terms of patient monitoring and enhancing healthcare accessibility. Through digital tools, we can facilitate real-time monitoring of patients’ conditions, enabling healthcare professionals to intervene proactively. This model saves time and empowers patients to manage their health, take ownership of their disease, and ultimately improve their outcomes. By creating more accessible and simplified healthcare experiences, we are paving the way for better, more efficient cancer and health care.
Can you share some key challenges and breakthroughs from your experience in the digital health industry?
One of the most significant challenges is patient adoption of digital health tools. It can be difficult for some individuals to transition from traditional healthcare models to digital platforms. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid shift, and many patients became more accustomed to remote care. Despite this, the need for personal touch remains, and maintaining patient adherence to digital health solutions remains an ongoing challenge.
Furthermore, continuously evolving and updating the app to stay relevant and beneficial for both healthcare providers and patients is a key for success. Innovation in healthcare technology is an ongoing process, and this journey has underscored the importance of staying ahead of the curve.
How does your expertise in Pharmacoeconomics contribute to the development and implementation of digital health solutions?
My experience in Pharmacoeconomics is crucial in ensuring the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of digital health solutions. In my work on oncology drug research, beyond designing and writing phase 3 clinical trial protocols, I was also responsible for developing pharmacoeconomic analysis protocols. In this role, I led parallel studies aimed at accurately evaluating the cost-effectiveness of treatments, assessing both their clinical benefits and financial impact on healthcare systems. This expertise allowed me to guide research and regulatory approval processes with a clear focus on economic sustainability.
Moovcare® has shown significant benefits, including increased overall survival and reduced hospitalizations. How do you envision scaling these benefits across different healthcare systems, particularly in the Arab world?
Scaling Moovcare®’s benefits to different healthcare systems, particularly in the Arab world, requires a thoughtful, region-specific approach. The application has the potential to bridge healthcare access gaps, particularly in areas with fewer healthcare resources. By providing a solution that enables remote monitoring and early detection, we can improve patient outcomes while reducing the strain on healthcare facilities. Our strategy includes partnering with local healthcare organizations to ensure that Moovcare® is culturally relevant, accessible, and aligns with the unique healthcare needs of each region.
As a woman leader in the health tech industry, what unique perspectives do you bring to your role, and how do you see this influencing the company’s approach to innovation?
As a woman in leadership, I bring a unique sensitivity to the emotional and behavioral impact of healthcare technology on patients. Women often excel at considering the broader picture and paying attention to small, but crucial, details—qualities that are essential when developing patient-centric solutions. I believe this holistic approach, combined with scientific rigor, is fundamental to the success of healthcare digital solutions.
My perspective allows me to drive innovation with a focus on patient well-being, ensuring that our solutions are not only scientifically effective but also emotionally and psychologically supportive for patients.
How do advancements in digital health balance the technical sophistication of medical solutions with the need for a patient-friendly experience?
Advancements in digital health have revolutionized patient care by introducing medical solutions that combine cutting-edge technology with ease of use. One of the key goals in this field is to offer highly accurate tools that help manage health conditions while ensuring patients feel comfortable and empowered. Medical devices and applications now offer real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and personalized treatment plans that allow patients to actively participate in their care. By focusing on intuitive interfaces and minimizing false alarms or unnecessary alerts, these innovations help reduce anxiety and uncertainty.
From my experience in the field this balance of technical sophistication and patient-friendly design is crucial in creating an experience that fosters both confidence and control, enabling patients to manage their health with greater peace of mind and autonomy.
Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or trends in digital health do you believe will have the most significant impact on cancer care?
We are entering an era of personalized medicine, where each patient’s treatment should be tailored to their unique profile, including their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and medical history. As a clinician, I see firsthand how individualized treatment can drastically improve outcomes. We are already witnessing this in oncology, where personalized digital solutions can offer more precise monitoring and adjustments to treatment plans. I believe that personalized digital health tools, which take into account the nuances of each patient, will be crucial in transforming cancer care. Moving forward, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning with patient data to create truly individualized treatment regimens will be a game-changer in the healthcare industry.
