Code for America founder and former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama, Jennifer Pahlka, delivers an Assembly Series address, followed by a fireside chat with Philip Payne, PhD, digital transformation implementation chair.
A reception with refreshments and a book signing will follow, 4:30 – 5 p.m. Parking validation will be provided.
How did the agency responsible for healthcare.gov not only recover from such a high-profile failure but transform into a high-performing institution? Public institutions are full of passionate, dedicated professionals who want to serve the public interest, but the very structures we put in place to manage their contributions can end up blocking them. Access to health insurance and healthcare is the key to the overall health of the US population. Technology can’t fix problems of culture, but people can. Come hear how teams are taking charge and making change.
Jennifer Pahlka
Author, Recoding America
Founder, Code for America
Former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, United States Digital Service
How did the agency responsible for healthcare.gov not only recover from such a high-profile failure but transform into a high-performing institution? Public institutions are full of passionate, dedicated professionals who want to serve the public interest, but the very structures we put in place to manage their contributions can end up blocking them. Access to health insurance and health care is the key to the overall health of the US population. Technology can’t fix problems of culture, but people can. Come hear how teams are taking charge and making change.
Assembly Series programming is supported by WashU’s ten-year strategic vision, Here and Next, designed to mobilize research, education, and patient care to establish WashU and St. Louis as a global hub for transformative solutions to the deepest societal challenges. When we bring our community together around topics that expand our knowledge and our perspectives, we stimulate the open, vibrant environment that will make our strategic vision possible.
Assembly Series programs are always free and open to the public, although seating is limited. Parking is available in the Danforth University Garage located at Forsyth Blvd and Wallace Ave.
This event is made possible by the Office of the Provost in partnership with WashU Digital Transformation
Jennifer Pahlka joins Dr. Philip Payne, digital transformation implementation chair, to discuss the parallels of insights from her recent book and how they inform the critical challenges facing the academy and healthcare such as the optimal use of healthcare information technology and the clinical application of digital access and medical care.
A reception with a book signing and light refreshments will follow.
Jennifer Pahlka is the author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. She founded Code for America in 2010 and led the organization for ten years. In 2013, she took a leave of absence to serve as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and helped found the United States Digital Service. She served on the Defense Innovation Board under Presidents Obama and Trump. At the start of the pandemic, she also co-founded United States Digital Response, which helps government meet the needs of the public with volunteer tech support. She received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years. Jennifer is a graduate of Yale University.