Bridging IT and Healthcare: A CIO’s Perspective

The professional community Global CIO brings together IT leaders from various industries. Understanding the differences in IT management across sectors like healthcare, retail, industry, and arts institutions is crucial. To explore the insights of Healthcare CIOs, the Global CIO editorial team interviewed Luciano Santos da Silva, CIO of the Zerrenner Foundation and one of the winners of the 2024 Project of the Year competition.

The Zerrenner Foundation, as the controlling shareholder of two significant groups in Brazil–Ambev, known for brands like Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Corona, and Itaúsa, the holding company of Itaú Bank–primarily operates in healthcare. The foundation plays a vital role in providing healthcare, education, and well-being services to all Ambev employees and their dependents, impacting approximately 67,000 lives.

Please tell us a few words about yourself

I am a technology executive with over 30 years of experience, currently serving as CIO of a nonprofit healthcare organization that supports 70,000 beneficiaries across Brazil. My focus is on leveraging innovation to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance efficiency, and drive digital transformation.

What is unique about your company’s business from an IT perspective?

Our institution combines technology with a strong social impact mission. Unlike traditional healthcare providers, we must optimize resources while ensuring high-quality patient care. This requires smart, data-driven solutions that balance efficiency and accessibility.

How relevant is digital transformation for your company? What have been the key milestones in this process? What are your main goals for digital transformation, and what projects have you already implemented to achieve them?

Digital transformation is at the core of our strategy. Key milestones include modernizing our core IT infrastructure, implementing AI-driven analytics, and launching projects like Exam Sentinel. Our future goals involve expanding predictive analytics, enhancing interoperability, and improving telemedicine capabilities. We also plan to launch some health prevention programs, such as mental health and obesity.

Read more materials on this topic in Compass CIO

Our community is already familiar with your project “Exam Sentinel: Ambev AI-Powered Health Monitoring in Brazil”, which was featured in the Project of the Year contest. Let’s discuss the most interesting aspects of this implementation.

One of the most compelling aspects was the collaboration between IT and healthcare professionals. The success of Exam Sentinel highlights how AI can be seamlessly integrated into medical workflows, driving both efficiency and better health outcomes.

Learn more about this project in Compass CIO:

Exam Sentinel: AI-Powered Health Monitoring for Ambev Employees in Brazil

Discover how the Zerrenner Foundation's IT team implemented an innovative solution for analyzing laboratory test results using AI. The project features an automatic notification system for physicians about the need for medical intervention based on identified risks and inconsistencies. The article reveals the development stages, data integration challenges overcome, and results achieved in improving the health of 67,000 employees.

Our IT team is composed of highly skilled professionals with expertise in software development, data analytics, and cybersecurity. As a leader, I focus on fostering a culture of innovation, ensuring alignment between IT and business objectives, and continuously developing our team’s capabilities.

How does the role of a CIO in your industry differ from other industries?

Healthcare CIOs must navigate complex regulatory landscapes, ensure data security, and drive innovation without compromising patient safety. Unlike other sectors, decisions directly impact lives, making risk management and ethical considerations even more critical.

What are your development plans? Could you share your most important projects for this year or the next couple of years?

Our roadmap includes expanding AI applications in diagnostics, enhancing patient engagement through digital platforms, and strengthening our cybersecurity framework. We are also analyzing to develop our own solution for medical records.

Complete the sentence: It’s important for an IT leader to remember that...

Technology is a tool, not the goal. The real measure of success is the positive impact it has on people’s lives.