This summer, SCPKU hosted a transformative seminar titled “Digital Health, Robotics & AI for Personalized Medicine: Economic Analysis,” drawing a diverse group of Stanford students and professionals to explore the intersection of biotechnology, economics, and healthcare in China. The three-week program was led by Professor Karen Eggleston, the director of the Asia-Pacific Research Center’s Asia Health Policy Center at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

The seminar began with a focus on the fundamentals of health economics, reviewing key concepts such as public goods, externalities, and moral hazard. This foundation was critical as students began to explore how healthcare technologies, including digital health tools and AI-enabled applications, could provide cost-effective solutions to global health challenges. Students also examined how these technologies might enhance precision health strategies to address critical issues, such as screening for chronic diseases, healthy aging, and the social determinants of health.

The course offered hands-on learning experiences through its combination of classroom sessions, guest lectures, and fieldwork. Students engaged with thought-provoking readings and podcasts, and through student-led discussions, they applied what they had learned to real-world case studies. Each student chose a reading or podcast to lead the seminar’s discussions, fostering a collaborative and interactive learning environment. 

During field trips to Zhejiang and Shandong, students visited various healthcare facilities and observed the implementation of the health solutions and technologies they had studies during the course. The field trip offered practical insights into digital health innovations such as telemedicine in rural areas, innovative diagnostic tools, and emerging technologies in elderly care.

Students also had the chance to speak with healthcare experts and policymakers. Guest lectures from figures like Dr. Kevin Schulman from Stanford’s Clinical Excellence Research Center and local health professionals such as Hongqiao Fu from Peking University’s School of Public Health provided rich perspectives on the potential and challenges of integrating new technologies into healthcare institutions.

Throughout the program, students worked in teams to develop case studies on digital health technologies in practice. These teams analyzed evidence on the social value of digital tools, assistive robotics, or AI-enabled interventions and proposed ways to adapt these technologies to different settings across East, Southeast, and South Asia. The student teams’ presentations to a panel of Chinese health economists marked the culmination of the seminar, showcasing their innovative solutions and the potential for real-world impact.

By the end of the program, students had gained a thorough understanding of health economics and the trade-offs involved in applying emerging technologies in healthcare, especially in the Chinese context. This seminar was not only an academic exploration but also a practical experience in understanding how technology can be harnessed to improve health outcomes and build more resilient health systems. This program continues SCPKU’s mission to foster global collaboration and innovation in addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges.

*Faculty interested in leading a Summer Seminar in August 2025 may submit a proposal here.
Student applications for 2025 Summer Seminars will open in February on Stanford SOLO.