Aetna/CVS Health: Firdaus Bhathena

As the Chief Digital Officer of CVS Health, Firdaus Bhathena believes strongly that we are at a critical inflection point in the use of digital technologies for health care. He believes we must use technology to raise the bar for health and well-being in a manner that is accessible to all.   Firdaus leads the creation and implementation of CVS Health and Aetna’s digital strategy, which is focused on overcoming obstacles to health care engagement through personalization, simplicity, and tech-driven partnerships. Providing people with easier access to information through digital tools - like the Aetna Health app - and simplifying the health care ecosystem leads to better health outcomes and reduced medical costs for everyone. Firdaus is committed to creating a deeply passionate, customer-focused culture that emphasizes delightful user experience, continuous innovation, and calculated risk-taking.   Prior to this role, Firdaus spent twenty years in the world of venture-backed startups. He co-founded WebLine Communications after winning the MIT $50K Business Plan Competition. WebLine was acquired by Cisco Systems, and Firdaus later founded Relicore, which was acquired by Symantec. He holds several patents in software and distributed systems and is a frequent speaker at industry events, including HIMSS and Health 2.0.   Firdaus holds BS and MS degrees in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT, where he was a Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society Graduate Fellow. He is an ardent supporter of education as a means to break the cycle of poverty and believes that diversity in the workplace makes us all better at what we do.