Wearable Health Equity Workshop: Rural Healthcare and Wellbeing
The Wearable Health Equity Workshop is organized and hosted by the Georgia Tech Wearable Intelligent Systems and Healthcare Center (WISH Center), the Institute for People and Technology, and the Institute for Matter and Systems.
AGENDA
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
09:00 - 10:00 Morning Keynote, Dr. Phillipp Gutruf
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 11:30 Technology Panel
11:30 - 01:00 Poster and lunch
01:00 - 02:00 Research Presentations
02:00 - 03:00 Afternoon Keynote, Dr. Kimberlee McKay
03:00 - 03:15 Break
03:15 - 04:30 Rural Health Panel
04:30 - 06:00 Networking and Reception {food and drinks provided}
The Wearable Health Equity Workshop is organized and hosted by the Georgia Tech Wearable Intelligent Systems and Healthcare Center (WISH Center), the Institute for People and Technology, and the Institute for Matter and Systems.
Why Attend?
• Learn about innovative tech and research advancing rural health (e.g. making tech more accessible)
• Engage with academic, clinical, and industry leaders
• Explore collaborative solutions for improving health in underserved communities
Morning Keynote
Philipp Gutruf, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Arizona
Dr. Philipp Gutruf is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Head of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona, where he leads the Gutruf Lab at the intersection of soft materials, photonics, and bioelectronics. He completed his Ph.D. at RMIT University in Australia and pursued postdoctoral training with Prof. John A. Rogers at Northwestern University, where he honed his expertise in flexible and stretchable electronics.
Dr. Gutruf’s research focuses on creating devices that intimately integrate with biological systems, developing wireless, battery-free, and fully implantable platforms for biosignal monitoring, neurostimulation, and biointerfaces. His group’s innovations include subdermal optogenetic tools, cardiac and muscular stimulators, and biosymbiotic devices capable of long-term health monitoring. With over 40 peer-reviewed articles, multiple patents, and high-profile publications in Nature Communications, Science Advances, and ACS Nano, his work has been recognized on journal covers and widely highlighted in the bioengineering community.
As a Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow and a rising leader in biomedical engineering, Dr. Gutruf exemplifies the future of wearable and implantable health technologies. His keynote will spotlight how biointegrated electronics and biosymbiotic systems are redefining diagnostics, therapeutics, and exploratory neuroscience, aligning closely with the WISH Center’s mission to advance innovation for equitable healthcare.
Afternoon Keynote
Kimberlee McKay, M.D., Avera Medical Group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Dr. Kimberlee McKay is a physician-leader in women’s health who has redefined how obstetrics and gynecology are delivered across rural and underserved communities. She serves as an OB/GYN with Avera Medical Group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and has played a pivotal role in advancing the Avera OB-GYN Service Line, ensuring consistent patient safety and high-quality care across a multistate health network.
Trained as a clinician, innovator, and mentor, Dr. McKay has introduced transformative programs that directly address the challenges of rural healthcare. She has developed uniform workflows to enhance patient safety, launched the TeleEcho case collaboration process to extend specialized expertise to regional OB/GYNs, and spearheaded the training of rural family physicians to perform emergency C-sections—filling a critical gap in maternal care access. Her work reflects a deep commitment to improving outcomes for women at every stage of life, from pregnancy and delivery to menopause and preventive health.
Dr. McKay’s leadership embodies the intersection of compassionate clinical practice and innovative care delivery models. By expanding access to expertise and creating scalable solutions, she has made lasting contributions to women’s health equity in rural America. Beyond her professional impact, she is an advocate for patient-centered care and enjoys an active lifestyle with her family, balancing clinical excellence with community engagement.