How Everyday Tech Is Changing the Future of Health Care
From smartwatches that track your heart rhythm to sensors that help doctors spot problems early, the technology we use every day is quietly reshaping healthcare. Healthcare Technology on Tap brings together healthcare and technology experts to talk about how wearables, advanced platforms, robotics, and other emerging technologies are improving care, supporting clinical decisions, and transforming healthcare operations.
Whether you work in healthcare, build technology, or are simply curious about how these innovations affect your life, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of what’s happening now — and what’s coming next.
Evening Schedule
- 5:30 p.m. – Dinner & Networking
- 6:00 p.m. – Welcome
- 6:10 p.m. – Panel Conversation
- 7:00 p.m. – Closing Thoughts
- 7:05 p.m. – Networking
Dinner and a drink ticket included! There is no-cost to attend this event.
What You’ll Gain
- How everyday tech — from wearables to home devices — connects to smarter, more responsive healthcare.
- How new technologies are transforming care and making it faster, more accurate, and more equitable.
- How innovation is improving the way healthcare systems operate behind the scenes.
- How microchips play an important role in modern care — powering wearables, remote-monitoring patches, diagnostic tools, and other technologies that help spot issues early and support clinical decisions.
Who’s Invited
This event is open to anyone interested in the future of healthcare and technology, including:
- Healthcare professionals across clinical, operational, and administrative roles
- Entrepreneurs and innovators exploring health-tech opportunities
- Digital health, technology, and semiconductor industry professionals
- Students, faculty, and alumni interested in healthcare and technology
- Community members curious about how modern technology is shaping care and improving lives
Meet the Panelists
Dr. Blaine Reeder, Associate Professor, MU Sinclair School of Nursing
Dr. Reeder focuses on how technology can support healthy aging in place— from smart home sensors to wearable devices and mobile apps. His work blends human-centered design with informatics to help patients, families, and care teams make better use of everyday tech. He is also the director of the MU SSON Precision Smart Technologies and Applications for Rapid Translation (START) Laboratory.
Dan Schwarzlander, COO & Co-Founder, CIQ Health
Schwarzlander is the COO and Co-founder of CIQ Health, an organization focused on the financial empowerment of healthcare providers. His work focuses on helping healthcare providers make sense of complex financial data so they can stay competitive and sustainable. His expertise in the No Surprises Act and public rate data has shaped tools that support smarter decision-making for hospitals and clinics.
Elizabeth “Liz” Shaffer, Program Director, Digital Health KC
Shaffer has a 20-year career in healthcare IT, fueled by a passion for improving patient care through cutting-edge technology. At Digital Health KC, she focuses on building programs that empower the digital health ecosystem in Kansas City. Her background includes leading the implementation of major interoperability solutions at Cerner, including electronic prescribing, direct messaging, and health information exchange (HIE).
Dr. Ben Gerber, Surgeon, Boone Health
Dr. Ben Gerber is a board-certified general surgeon who practices at Boone Medical Center in Columbia, Missouri. He is experienced in a wide diversity of general surgery procedures. He has performed over a thousand advanced minimally invasive surgeries with the Davinci Surgical Robot. Dr. Gerber has a special interest and greater than 600 cases of experience performing surgical repair for hernias of the diaphragm and surgical treatment of acid reflux disease.
For more information, please contact the MU Career Accelerator at careeraccelerator@missouri.edu.
This project is funded by the National Science Foundation under grant number DEG-1946619 - Microelectronics supplement fund to the Mizzou’s CyberCorps project. PI: Dr. Chi-Ren Shyu. Project partners include: MU Extension, Mizzou College of Engineering, MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, Missouri School of Journalism, and the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies.
