Experts in medicine, design, academia and public policy gathered recently for the inaugural symposium, “Synergizing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Health and the Built Environment.” Co-hosted by Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine, the event held at the BioScience Research Collaborative focused on how emerging technologies can shape urban design to promote health equity and community resilience.
The symposium addressed the ways AI and digital health tools can enhance the built environment to help reduce health disparities. Speakers emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration, highlighting a shared goal of leveraging innovation to close health gaps and improve outcomes in underserved communities.
This initiative is part of Rice’s commitment to health care innovation and responsible AI, which are key elements of its 10-year strategic plan Momentous, and reflects the university’s focus on forging institutional partnerships to create a significant impact
“AI and digital health innovations offer unprecedented means to address disparities in our cities,” said David Abraham, lecturer in Rice’s Professional Science Master’s Program and event co-lead.
“This is the type of collaborative innovation that public health urgently needs,” added Dr. LeChauncy Woodard, associate dean for community engagement at Baylor and symposium co-lead. “At Baylor, we’re committed to advancing responsible, equitable AI to improve health outcomes and ensure digital tools benefit the communities they’re meant to serve. By aligning technology with real-world needs, we can drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Participants engaged in sessions on clinical data integration, community performance metrics and urban interventions aimed at advancing equity. Presenters showcased how AI-driven approaches are being utilized in medical and municipal settings to more precisely address health challenges.
Among the panelists was Barbara Benesch of B. Grace Design, who presented geospatial models linking asthma rates to green space and traffic data. Her work informs design decisions for low-income housing. Ed McFarlan from the University of California, Berkeley’s sustainable cities program proposed a “unified field theory” for district-level AI tools that align with public health and environmental sustainability.
Jeremy Liu, the chief housing officer at Creative Development Partners, introduced “precision housing” metrics that directly correlate investments in affordable housing with reduced emergency room visits and Medicaid costs. His presentation generated interest in data-driven funding strategies for community health projects.
Dr. Kelly LeBlanc, the chief of anesthesia and director for design and development of the new, AI technology supported Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, demonstrated how AI-powered systems enhance patient care in the new hospital model. New technology examples integrated in the hospital include voice-activated documentation, ambient safety alert systems and continuous wearable device monitoring. LeBlanc said these innovations improve clinical outcomes while increasing comfort and efficiency. Her work emphasizes how clinical insights can inform broader public health strategies, especially when data is integrated into community design.
The event’s closing panel, moderated by Abraham and Woodard, discussed how to scale these technologies while ensuring data privacy and design justice. Panelists highlighted the necessity of deploying tools equitably in neighborhoods facing the greatest health challenges.
Abraham and Woodard concluded by announcing a forthcoming white paper to support pilot projects throughout Harris County. Planned initiatives include AI-enabled evaluations of public housing and the deployment of community-based sensors.
The event was sponsored by Rice’s Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health program.