Solving for Tomorrow: Tales from the Tech Frontier

Engineering Empathy: The Future of Patient-Centered Health Devices

Episode Summary

In this episode, Brian chats with Aaron Horowitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Empath Labs

Episode Notes

In this episode, Brian speaks with Aaron Horowitz, Founder and CEO of Empath Labs, about how innovative technology can shape the future of pediatric care. Drawing from his background 

In creative design and personal experience with chronic illness, Aaron leads the development of interactive therapeutic devices—like robotic ducks and AI-enhanced teddy bears—that support children through cancer, diabetes, anxiety, and clinical trials.

The discussion explores how Aaron and his team are advancing pediatric healthcare through technology by:

• Co-designing with children and clinicians to develop interactive tools that reflect real emotional and clinical needs
• Engineering therapeutic play experiences that improve treatment adherence and reduce procedural anxiety
• Applying anticipatory design principles to enhance pediatric participation in clinical trials and long-term care
• Using embodied ideation methods like improv and body-storming to prototype emotionally aware hardware
• Centering empathy as a design constraint, ensuring every device is not only functional but deeply human-centered

Aaron shares what it takes to translate imaginative ideas into real-world impact—and why the future of healthcare innovation lies in merging cutting-edge tech with human insight.

Time Stamps:

• *(6:35) From Theater to Therapy: Aaron’s Creative Journey into Pediatric Tech
• *(9:35)  How Kids Taught Us the Power of Play in Medical Design
• *(16:45) Co-Designing Thin-Sliced Medical Companions with Children and Families
• *(21:50) Comforting for the Future Through Interaction 
• *(40:50) Modeling Creativity and Play in Team Culture
• *(49:30) The Post-Fix

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Solving for Tomorrow is sponsored by Geisel Software. We help you create products that seamlessly automate the physical and virtual worlds using robotics, machine learning, and so much more. Find out more at geisel.software.

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Links

Follow Aaron on LinkedIn

Empath Labs

Follow Brian Geisel on LinkedIn

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