Comstock's magazine 0620 - June June 2020 | Página 29

UC Davis Health
EXPLORING TECHNOLOGIES FOR
HEALTH CARE ADVANCEMENTS
Thomas S. Nesbitt, M.D., MPH,
FAAFP, is an internationally known
and highly regarded pioneer in
using telecommunications technology to
deliver a broad spectrum of health care
services and health professional education.
He is professor emeritus of Family and
Community Medicine at UC Davis Health.
COVID-19 affects older adults, nursing
home residents, people with chronic
diseases, and densely populated
cities to a much greater degree than
other populations and communities.
Technology-enabled care will be critical
in addressing this pandemic and everyday
health conditions.
A graduate of UC Davis School of Medicine,
Nesbitt has also been on the School
of Medicine’s faculty for more than 30
years. Among his many honors are the
American Telemedicine Association’s
President’s Award and the American
Hospital Association’s Justin Ford Kimball
Innovators Award.
Nesbitt’s work in providing clinical care
to patients using a form of telemedicine
formally started in 1992, and today,
thanks to that work, UC Davis (with its
Center for Health and Technology) is
a global leader in using telehealth and
distance learning to meet needs in remote
and underserved regions.
His expertise has also provided a vigorous
voice in public health and disaster
planning projects, where telemedicine
applications are critical components. The
COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies how
virtual visits via secure video connections
have enabled patients and providers to
safely continue appointments at a distance.
Nesbitt has also focused on the needs
of older adults, who face disparities in
health care due to social isolation, physical
disabilities and inadequacies in the
health care system. That focus led to the
development of the innovative Healthy
Aging in the Digital World project.
“My vision for UC Davis’s Healthy Aging
in the Digital World project is a thriving
center dedicated to advancing health and
reducing costs and challenges of aging
through patient-centered technological
innovation,” says Nesbitt. “The focus may
be on the health of older individuals, but
the benefits will be enjoyed by everyone.”
“My passion is
creating technologyenabled
models
of care and living
for older adults,
from caregiver
monitoring and
medication
reminders to
robotic-assisted
devices, that
can provide
healthier and more
independent lives.”
— DR. THOMAS S. NESBITT
Profile Sponsored By
SPONSORED PROFILE
health.ucdavis.edu
June 2020 | comstocksmag.com 29