Lygeia Ricciardi

It was only a few years ago that the idea of patients researching their own medical conditions, accessing their own health records, or establishing online communities was unheard of. When Lygeia founded the office of Consumer eHealth, she was challenging deeply-ingrained cultural norms in which patients are seen primarily as passive recipients of health care services. In contrast, Lygeia believes that individuals—regardless of education or income level—have the capacity and agency to shape their own lives, in part through leveraging the power of information technology. Despite experiencing strong pushback from both within and outside of government, she was able to convince others to embrace and advocate for change. Through lessons learned, Lygeia will inspire and motivate individuals to become changemakers within your organization.