By Angie Arranz,
Special to Rice News
The Digital Health Institute — a recently launched joint initiative between Rice University and Houston Methodist — has appointed Pothik Chatterjee as its executive director, effective May 1.
Chatterjee will play a pivotal role in advancing the institute’s mission to revolutionize health care through cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration. He will guide the strategic growth of the institute, aligning its vision with the broader goals of Rice and Houston Methodist in digital health, precision medicine and data science.
“The Digital Health Institute’s collaborative model is uniquely powerful,” Chatterjee said. “By bringing together clinicians, engineers and entrepreneurs, we’re building an ecosystem designed to transform how care is delivered and experienced.
Chatterjee said with Rice’s world-class strengths in all areas of AI and engineering and Houston Methodist’s clinical excellence and translational research capabilities, this partnership empowers the institute to turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
“I’m excited to help shape a future where digital health isn’t just a tool but a catalyst for more accessible, equitable and effective care,” he said.
Chatterjee joins the institute with over 15 years of leadership in digital health, biotech and artificial intelligence. He previously served as executive vice president at the Greater Baltimore Committee and as assistant vice president of innovation and operations support at LifeBridge Health, where he led transformative innovation initiatives.
A recognized ecosystem builder, he has forged high-impact partnerships with leading tech companies including Apple, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. Chatterjee holds degrees from Georgetown University, Harvard Business School and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
The institute is led by Rice’s Ashutosh Sabharwal, the Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Houston Methodist’s Dr. Khurram Nasir, the William A. Zoghbi Centennial Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine and division chief of cardiovascular prevention and wellness.
“Rice is poised to become the leading nonmedical institution in health research and innovation,” said Sabharwal said. “The introduction of this position reflects the institute’s commitment to research excellence and aligns with Rice’s strategic vision.
“The Digital Health Institute is a key step toward advancing health and health care for the benefit of humanity,” he added. “We’re thrilled to welcome Pothik to our growing team. His background in health care innovation, research administration and venture investing will be instrumental in translating cutting-edge research into impactful digital health solutions. From leading innovation strategy and forging strong partnerships to driving fundraising and grant development, his leadership will help shape the institute’s long-term success.”
“As we move from vision to execution, Pothik’s expertise will be essential in helping us strengthen the institutional alignment needed to deliver at scale,” Nasir said. “From my vantage point of a health system, the real value lies not just in innovation, but in implementation.”
Nasir said Chatterjee’s ability to bring together multidisciplinary expertise will ensure that every byte of data counts, translating to smarter bedside care and population health impact.
“With his leadership, we are better positioned to bridge the gap between discovery and delivery, and move toward our goal of making Houston Methodist and Rice a global model for digitally enabled, patient-centered care,” he said.
The Houston Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute aims to serve as a global model, showcasing the transformative potential of combining medicine and engineering to shape the future of health care.
A directory of Rice faculty with research expertise and interests in digital health is available here.