Vice President, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, Sharp HealthCare
Kelly J. Ko, PhD has a diverse work experience spanning various organizations. Starting in 2009, they worked at Cerner Corporation as a Scientist in Life Sciences Consulting, providing strategic recommendations for pharmaceutical, biotech, and payer clients. They later became a Research Client Strategist and Manager in Population Health, where they developed population health and research strategies, collaborated with cross-functional teams, and managed a team of subject matter experts.
In 2016, Dr. Ko joined West Health as the Director of Clinical Research, overseeing strategic priorities in clinical research and data science. They achieved significant accomplishments including securing funding, developing a national accreditation program, and leading a sustainability plan for a learning collaborative.
Dr. Ko also worked at the University of San Diego as an Adjunct Faculty member, teaching courses and sharing their expertise. They are currently a member of the Zahn Innovation Platform Advisory Board at San Diego State University, providing strategic guidance for the ZIP Launchpad and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives.
Dr. Ko then joined Sharp HealthCare as the Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, where they plan, lead, and implement key innovation and strategic priorities. They focus on identifying opportunities at the intersection of technology, data, and digital health for early adoption or co-development, as well as growing strategic partnerships to diversify revenue and commercialization opportunities.
Most recently, Dr. Ko joined Banner Health as the Vice President of Technology Ventures & Innovation. They focus on leading innovation efforts by identifying, developing and integrating new technologies, managing investments, and fostering strategic partnerships across the enterprise creating growth opportunities addressing current and future challenges.
Kelly J. Ko, PhD completed their Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Pepperdine University in 2003. Following that, they pursued their Master of Science degree in Developmental Psychology at the University of Utah from 2003 to 2006. Continuing their education, they earned their PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Health & Development from the University of Utah in 2008. In addition to their degrees, they also obtained a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Utah in 2006.
