News and Insights

Future of Health at SXSW 2025: From Outer Space to Inner Connection

March 27, 2025

I had the privilege of representing FINN Partners at SXSW 2025, where our Health experts helped curate our third annual Future of Health event. My three days in Austin were a whirlwind of information, inspiration, and future-thinking that sparked conversations about where healthcare is headed. It reminded me why health remains one of the most dynamic sectors for communication professionals today. 

Here’s a recap of what I thought were the most compelling insights from across the sessions about the Future of Health.

Why a Health Track at SXSW?

Health innovation happens at the intersection of many disciplines. That’s precisely why the Future of Health is such a natural fit at SXSW. From space medicine to AI ethics, the panels brought together voices that typically wouldn’t share the same stage – creating exactly the kind of cross-pollination that drives breakthrough thinking.

The Unexpected Stars: Space Medicine and Organ Innovation

One of the most fascinating discussions centered on space healthcare. Companies like BioAstra are collecting biospecimens before, during, and after space flight to understand how space affects human biology. Their Space Omics & Medical Atlas  reveals insights about DNA repair, aging, and immunity that could revolutionize healthcare here on Earth. For example, the research shows that space exposure creates “epigenetic” changes, a new perspective on human biology that wasn’t possible before. As space exploration becomes more accessible, the healthcare applications of this research will continue to expand.

Equally impressive was a conversation among experts from Carnegie Mellon University and Mayo Clinic exploring how bioengineering is addressing the transplant crisis. The vision of fully functional 3D-printed organs within two decades isn’t just exhilarating – it’s potentially life-saving for countless patients on waiting lists who may not live long enough for donor organs to be available to them. It could also extend transplant options to many who aren’t currently eligible.

AI: Promise, Perspective, and Balance

Artificial intelligence dominated many sessions, with experts stressing the importance of taking a measured approach. In pharma marketing, for example, speakers emphasized that not every problem requires an AI solution – a refreshing perspective in this over-hyped landscape. Similarly, policy experts warned against repeating the mistakes of electronic health record implementation, arguing that AI should enhance human relationships in healthcare, not replace them.

As one panelist put it: “In the age of AI, we should be making healthcare more human, not less.”

Local Ecosystems Driving Global Innovation

A recurring theme across panels was the power of “local innovation ecosystems.” From Howard University’s intellectual property visualization tools to Advocate Health’s upcoming innovation district called “The Pearl in Charlotte,” designed to accelerate healthcare solutions, institutions are creating physical and virtual spaces where breakthrough ideas can grow and flourish.

Santosh Mohan of Advocate Health reminded us that “there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” quoting Victor Hugo to highlight that strategic partnerships are accelerating innovation, like hospital-at-home models.

Real People, Real Impact

I was very moved by a panel that centered on the patient experience, a subject near and dear to me. Grace Cordovano and Jen Horonjeff delivered a “real and sobering conversation” on authentic patient-centricity, reminding us that patients, too, and not just caregivers, are experiencing burnout. They want real partnership, not just prescriptions. They also emphasized that startups need to incorporate patients into leadership roles and advisory boards early, and not as an afterthought.

This really resonated with me, as the story of my six-year-old son, August, was shared. August is a cancer warrior who’s excited about the upcoming baseball season, so rounding these discussions with real human impact – a reminder of why communication that bridges complex science and human experience – is why this matters so much.

Public Health: Breaking Down Silos

Public health leaders emphasized that crisis-driven solutions aren’t enough. We need sustainable, proactive strategies built through multi-industry collaboration. As Brandon Talley put it, “Public health can’t work in silos” – a sentiment that aligns with a cross-sector approach to health communications.

Other experts questioned why we don’t fund prevention at the same level that we fund treatment, pointing to an ongoing imbalance in healthcare priorities. Health departments possess vast amounts of underutilized data that could drive smarter public health strategies.

Looking Ahead: Implications for Health Communicators

The conversations at our Future of Health program highlighted the crucial role communication plays in healthcare innovation. As professionals working at the intersection of science, technology, and human experience, we face both challenges and opportunities:

• Translating complex medical advances into understandable narratives
• Helping ensure AI implementation remains focused on meeting human needs
• Supporting the development of collaborative ecosystems
• Amplifying patient voices in healthcare decision-making at the patient-provider level as well as across the industry

The future of healthcare will be shaped not just by technological innovation, but by how effectively we communicate these advances and ensure they serve the people who need them most. SXSW health discussions reinforced that effective communication isn’t just a nice-to-have in healthcare innovation – it’s essential to it.

Access Videos from The Future of Health at SXSW 2025