Episode: Building AI-Driven Health Products That Clinicians and Consumers Can Trust
Guest: Cazandra Aporbo, MS – Head of Data, FoXX Health

Summary
In this episode, Kelly, Kristi, and Alex sit down with Cazandra Aporbo, Head of Data from FoXX Health to talk about what it actually takes to build AI for healthcare that people trust. They dig into the “diagnostic odyssey” for women (why it can take 7–10 years to get a diagnosis), how fragmented and biased health data really is, and why the answer isn’t to pretend bias doesn’t exist—but to make it visible and explainable. Cazandra walks through how FoXX is co-building an AI-powered women’s health companion app that supports clearer health insights for women.

What you’ll hear about

• Why AI in health has higher stakes than other industries
• The gap FoXX is trying to close: consumer data ➜ clinical decision support
• Making biased, fragmented data transparent instead of hiding it
• Validating AI models for different use cases (clinical vs consumer)
• Designing AI outputs people can actually understand and act on
• Why “your normal” matters more than population averages

Key quotes

• “We can’t collect data that doesn’t exist—so we make the bias visible.”
• “Validation isn’t a checkbox, it’s a continuous relationship with the data.”
• “The goal is for women to understand their normal, not the average woman.”
  

Who it’s for
Product leaders in digital health, AI/ML folks working with clinical or patient-generated data, founders building women’s health apps, and clinicians trying to make sense of all the ‘AI in healthcare’ noise.

Links/mentions

• FoXX Health (women’s health companion app + community “The Den”)
• Concepts: diagnostic odyssey, ethical AI, model monitoring, consumer-to-clinical data bridge
  

Length: ~40 minutes

In this episode of Build Well: Women Shaping Health Technology, the hosts unpack what it really means to design with empathy in health tech—where patients, providers, and caregivers face uniquely vulnerable and high-stakes situations.

They explore the challenges of understanding user needs, especially in crisis situations, and the complexities of measuring success beyond traditional metrics. The conversation emphasizes the need for trust and transparency in technology, the role of user research, and the potential of AI to enhance personalized care. Ultimately, the episode highlights the balance between user experience and business needs, advocating for a human-centered approach in design.

1. Empathy = Human-first design: Consider emotional states, vulnerability, and agency—not just personas.
2. Multiple end users matter: Patients, providers, caregivers, and researchers all experience products differently.
3. Technology isn’t always the answer: Sometimes empathy means reducing tech or rethinking workflows.
4. Measuring impact takes time: Success in health tech often emerges months or years later—patience and persistence are required.
5. User trust is everything: Clear communication, transparency, and intuitive design build lasting credibility.
6. Bias check: PMs must acknowledge their own assumptions and continuously validate decisions with real users.
7. Get close to the user: Shadowing, advisory boards, and even AI-based simulations can ground product choices in real-world needs.

• Crisis Text Line – Free 24/7 crisis support via trained volunteers.
• Pine Park Health – Provider-led care model for older adults.
• Evidation Health – Example of patient advisory groups and user research.
• Oura Ring – Wearable app praised for trust and user-centric design.
• Epic / MyChart – Highlighted as both widely adopted and challenging for usability/trust.
• Wearables – Fitbit and the culture of step tracking as a long-tail impact of early digital health tech.

00:00 Introduction to Building with Empathy

02:41 Understanding Human-Centered Design

05:25 Empathy in Health Tech: A Deeper Dive

08:09 Building for Vulnerable Populations

10:51 Measuring Success in Crisis Situations

13:33 Balancing Multiple User Experiences

16:04 Technology vs. Human Interaction in Health Care

19:02 Trust and Autonomy in Health Apps

26:17 Navigating Healthcare Communication Challenges

29:08 The Role of AI in Personalized Healthcare

32:08 Designing with Empathy in Health Tech

36:09 User Engagement and Feedback Loops

39:31 Balancing Business Needs with Patient-Centric Design

45:47 Reflecting on Purpose in Health Tech Development

Summary

In this episode of the Build Well podcast, hosts Kelly Scherer, Alex Tong, and Kristi Lui delve into the various archetypes of product managers, discussing how roles have evolved over time and the importance of understanding one's PM style. They explore the diverse types of product managers, the challenges they face, and the significance of knowing your PM type in relation to company needs. The conversation also touches on the skills necessary for growth in product management, the impact of AI on the field, and the importance of decisive thinking in decision-making processes.

Takeaways

• Understanding your PM type is crucial for career growth.
• Product management roles are evolving with technology.
• Being adaptable is key in product management.
• AI is reshaping the landscape of product management.
• Decisive thinking is essential for effective PMs.
• User research can be time-consuming but is necessary.
• Different types of PMs address various business needs.
• Navigating ambiguity is a common challenge for PMs.
• Collaboration with technical teams enhances product outcomes.
• The future of product management will involve more AI integration.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Technical Difficulties and PM Roles

11:42 Understanding Different Types of Product Managers

14:13 The Evolution of Product Management with AI

17:13 The Importance of Technical Partnerships in PM

20:09 Defining Your PM Type and Its Relevance

22:54 Exploring Product Management Skills

25:51 Navigating AI Workflows and User Experience

28:11 Decisive Thinking in Product Management

30:54 The Role of AI in Product Management

Resources

LA Health Tech Hang

Summary:

Welcome to Build Well: Women Shaping Health Technology, a podcast about product strategy, leadership, and building meaningful health tech—told from the perspective of women doing the work. In this pilot episode, Kelly, Alex, and Kristie introduce themselves and share their journeys into product management, their motivation for launching the podcast, and why representation in health tech matters now more than ever. From navigating ethical challenges to building with empathy, this episode sets the tone for a thoughtful and fun season ahead.

Key Takeaways

1. Building health tech requires emotional intelligence and ethical responsibility.

Creating digital health products means designing for people at their most vulnerable—so empathy, trust, and thoughtful compliance must be at the core.

2. There’s no one path to product management—especially in health tech.

The hosts bring clinical research, psychology, and care delivery backgrounds, proving diverse experiences enrich the product process.

3. Women belong in the room—and at the head of the table.

Female representation in health tech is still limited, especially in leadership roles. This podcast is a space to elevate those voices and share real stories from the field.

References & Mentions

1. Evidation – The company where the hosts met and began working in health tech.

2. Women In Product (San Diego Chapter) – Mentioned as a key part of Kelly’s mentorship experience and podcast inspiration.