Student leverages health informatics to expand global care access

Asha Poulose Johnson has seen firsthand how limited access to diagnostics, expert clinicians and critical health services can delay diagnosis and treatment for millions of people in developing nations. She has also seen how data and technology can help overcome those divides.

“For example, handheld ultrasound devices, combined with AI-enabled guidance, can help frontline healthcare workers perform diagnostic imaging at the point of care”, said Asha, who is in the second year of the Doctor of Health Informatics degree program at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. “This is critical in regions where access to radiologists and imaging infrastructure is limited, enabling earlier detection and faster clinical decisions.”

Asha serves as a chief digital officer at GE HealthCare and pursues her degree from her home city of Bangalore, southern India, leading global efforts to expand care delivery and improve outcomes through technology.

At McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, Asha has expanded her perspective to include broader forces shaping healthcare, such as economics and value-based care. She credits the DHI program with helping her connect theory to practice.

“I realized that solving healthcare challenges, especially in developing nations, requires a deeper, structured understanding of the healthcare ecosystem beyond technology alone,” Asha said. “The DHI program provides that holistic perspective by integrating informatics, policy, and real-world health care applications.”

Asha has more than two decades of experience in leading data and digital transformation initiatives with a focus on equipment health-related solutions across industries. Building on her professional background and with support from GE HealthCare, Asha’s academic work at the school focuses on using artificial intelligence and data from medical devices to expand access to care in regions where specialists are scarce. She aims to help create scalable approaches that allow earlier diagnosis and treatment in underserved communities.

“The DHI program strengthens my ability to design solutions that are not only technologically sound but also accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate,” she says.  

A key part of her journey has been the James Turley Endowed Scholarship for Global Health, which supports students committed to applying informatics internationally. The scholarship has eased the financial burden of her education and allowed her to focus more fully on her studies and research.

“Receiving this scholarship has been an incredible honor,” Asha said. “In addition to the practical benefits, it serves as a strong validation of my commitment to using informatics to improve global health.”

She believes scholarships play a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders in biomedical informatics, particularly those focused on global health. By supporting students with different perspectives and goals, such investments help drive progress toward more effective healthcare systems.

Looking ahead, she plans to use her degree to continue working at the intersection of technology, policy, and community engagement to address gaps in care, helping ensure that innovation reaches the patients and communities who need it most.

“My experience has shown me that data and analytics have the potential to bridge these gaps in healthcare delivery,” she said. “I look forward to leveraging what I learn to make that potential real for more patients around the world.”