By Erica Olenski, FACHDM, Associate Vice President, FINN Partners
LinkedIn: Erica Olenski
LinkedIn: FINN Partners
Superheroes have always captured our imagination—not for their powers, but for their choices. Their stories remind us that great power without responsibility can do as much harm as good. The same is true for healthcare technology: progress is not just about what we can do, but what we should do.
Walking the floor at ViVE 2025, it was impossible to ignore how much of the conversation around technology has shifted. What once felt like hype now felt like momentum—real, tangible progress in how healthcare organizations are rethinking technology’s role in patient care. From next-generation interoperability solutions to new patient experience models, the industry is evolving faster than ever. AI was a dominant force, but it wasn’t the only one. The real story at ViVE was not about AI’s potential, it was about how leaders in this space are ensuring it drives meaningful change.
Some of the most promising transformations came from those solving longstanding challenges rather than just introducing new technology for the sake of disruption. One standout example is CancerX, a public-private partnership leading the charge in cancer innovation. Featured across several panels at ViVE, the initiative also showcased its second-year accelerator cohort of startups committed to tackling some of the toughest challenges in cancer care through meaningful collaboration. At ViVE, CancerX underscored how collaboration between health systems, technology leaders, and policy makers can accelerate real progress in specialties like oncology, proving that when innovation is mission-driven it changes lives.
But meaningful innovation does not happen in isolation. Whether in oncology, population health, or operational efficiency, data remains the common denominator in healthcare transformation. Interoperability, once an elusive goal, is now becoming a reality with major advancements in FHIR and TEFCA adoption. Data fluidity across systems and economies is within reach, but the challenge remains: how do we ensure integrity as we break down silos? Organizations like DirectTrust and companies like MRO are addressing this by pushing health systems to audit their data sources, ensuring AI and automation aren’t working off incomplete or biased information. The strength of healthcare’s digital future won’t be measured by the number of connections made, but by the trustworthiness and integrity of the data being exchanged.
Beyond data integrity, a shift in how we think about patient experience was clear at ViVE. The era of “engagement” as a buzzword is fading. Technology is no longer about capturing patient data; it’s about enhancing care delivery in real-time. Companies like CalmWave, Vibe Health by eVideon, and Artisight showcased solutions that focus on seamless integration rather than adding more complexity to clinicians’ workflows. The best innovations weren’t necessarily the flashiest, but the ones that allowed providers to deliver more compassionate, efficient, and human-centered care without distraction.
As healthcare technology advances, so does the need for expertise at the intersection of IT and clinical workflows. The industry does not need more technical talent per se, it needs leaders who understand both healthcare’s digital and human elements. Companies like CereCore are stepping into this role, offering IT staffing solutions that bring clinical experience into the fold. As automation and AI reshape healthcare operations, organizations will need more than technology—they will need people who understand how to deploy it effectively within the realities of patient care.
Conversations about security and ethics weren’t merely side notes at ViVE, they were at the center of every major discussion. The message was clear: innovation means nothing if patients and providers can’t trust the systems that support them. AI-driven decision-making is already here, but without human oversight, robust security, and clear data governance, the risks are significant. This is where the industry’s real superheroes appear. Not in the form of algorithms or software, but in the leaders who ensure technology serves patients rather than the other way around.
“With great power, there must also come—great responsibility.” These words from Stan Lee might have been written for superheroes, but they apply as much to healthcare innovation. ViVE 2025 wasn’t simply a showcase of what’s possible. It was a reminder that responsible innovation is the only kind that moves healthcare forward. The biggest breakthroughs in interoperability, patient experience, and AI-powered automation won’t succeed unless they are implemented with care, expertise, and ethical oversight.
The future of healthcare isn’t being written by technology alone. It’s being written by the people willing to challenge the status quo, push boundaries, and demand that progress serves a greater purpose. The real superheroes of this industry aren’t waiting for someone else to lead.
As we look to and reflect on other healthcare spring conferences such as HIMSS and SXSW, we stand at the crossroads of possibility and responsibility. This is the moment to step forward. Not simply as innovators, but as guardians of a healthcare system that must be smarter, stronger, and more human than ever before.
Because in healthcare, the greatest superpower isn’t technology—it’s the courage to use it wisely.