Google taps FDA’s former digital health chief for global strategy role

Google has hired the former head of digital health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to lead its efforts to develop and commercialize artificial intelligence products to improve the delivery of medical services around the world.

Bakul Patel, a 13-year veteran of the FDA, will serve as Google’s senior director for global digital health strategy and regulatory affairs, according to a statement posted on his LinkedIn page Monday. He left his job at the agency last month.

In an interview with STAT, Patel said the new role will allow him to influence the uptake of health AI tools not only in the U.S., but also in developing countries that lack the resources available to most Americans.

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