Stanford Healthcare AI Applied Research Team (HEA3RT)

Founded in 2019 by Dr. Steven Lin and co-led with Executive Director Margaret Smith, MBA, HEA3RT advances responsible, outcome-driven, and people-centered AI through a dedicated community of clinicians, scholars, and educators. Rather than developing AI models, HEA3RT’s expertise lies in rapidly and rigorously evaluating them using quality improvement-inspired implementation research methods, to ensure AI solutions are thoughtfully integrated into healthcare environments. HEA3RT has supported four major implementations and evaluations at Stanford, with many more ongoing. Most recently, HEA3RT collaborated on studies demonstrating AI’s role in predicting and preventing hospital deterioration events and easing administrative burdens through AI-generated patient message replies. HEA3RT recognizes that collaborating with industry is essential to advancing responsible, people-centered AI. Partnering with companies large and small, HEA3RT aims to bridge research and innovation, aligning AI tools with both clinical needs and industry expertise to create scalable solutions. A core focus for HEA3RT is democratizing AI to benefit underserved communities. By focusing on advancing technology that reflects the needs and perspectives of underserved communities, HEA3RT aims to create a future where AI is an accessible, equitable resource in healthcare. HEA3RT also actively contributes to national policy on responsible AI use, collaborating with national organizations to lay the groundwork for responsible, people-centered AI policies that prioritize real-world needs. Building on foundational efforts across Stanford, industry collaborations, and community engagement, HEA3RT is advancing its AI research into emergent, underexplored areas including AI in medical education and AI’s environmental impact. HEA3RT aims to broaden the potential of AI to address complex healthcare needs while upholding a commitment to inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and real-world impact.