USAID cuts, women's health and leading the right way

At the end of last year I got the chance to record the first episode of the show in an actual studio. Still a lot to learn about this versus virtually, but Patty Mecheal was a gracious and very awesome guest. Patty, CEO of healthenabled brings nearly three decades of mHealth and digital health experience into this discussion we recorded during the Global Digital Health Forum in Nairobi in December 2025.  After a tumultuous year of policy shifts with USAID funding, WHO shifts and the cascading challenges globally, our conversation examines how we got here and where we need to go when ethics and inclusivity are politically sidelined.What we cover:The state of 2025 - USAID cuts and their ripple effects on healthcare and digital health in underserved communitiesLessons from the 1990s to now - what patterns keep repeating, and what fundamental mistakes we're still makingWomen as decision-makers AND consumers - why this isn't just the "right thing to do" (though it is), but represents massive unmet market opportunityValue and context in evaluation - how to actually assess digital health and AI tools in ways that matterLeadership with values - Patty's honest reflections on what she's learned and gotten wrongBuilding responsibly when the incentives don't reward it - what does ethical implementation look like now?This episode is for you if you:Build digital health or AI solutionsMake policy or funding decisionsResearch or evaluate health interventionsAre working on impact in women’s healthUnfiltered, real insights from someone who's seen it all. Chapters and Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Global Perspectives on Digital Health01:24 Reflections on the Global Digital Forum04:03 Patti's Journey and Background08:20 Aha Moments in Public Health11:46 The Importance of Data in Health Interventions16:01 Learning from low resource settings21:55 Building Trust in Digital Health Solutions24:50 Balancing Scalability and Trust30:22 The Role of Compassion in Healthcare40:53 The Theory of Change in Digital Health46:13 Bootstrapping Innovations in Digital Health52:49 Compassionate Leadership and Ethical Practices57:08 The Role of Women in Health and TechnologyAbout Patty: Dr. Patricia (Patty) Mechael is a global digital health leader, speaker, and award-winning author with nearly 30 years of experience shaping equity-centered health and technology initiatives across more than 45 countries. She is Co-Founder and CEO of health.enabled, where she leads the Global Digital Health Monitor and Digital Health and AI Strategy efforts with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, UNICEF, and others. She is also a Senior Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she serves as the Co-Principal Investigator for the Gates Foundation’s Digital Health Exemplars and where she also teaches a course on Gender-intentional Digital Health. Known for translating complex ideas into human, actionable insights, Patty writes and speaks widely on responsible AI, gender equity, and the future of work and health—bringing a grounded, compassion-driven leadership lens shaped by both evidence and lived experience.