Fresno State is unveiling a cross-disciplinary digital center dedicated to advancing healthcare through technology and innovation, bringing together five colleges at the university.

“I have always believed that innovation happens when different mindsets kind of intersect,” said professor Dr. Nupur Hajela, the founding director. “I envision the center to become a dynamic hub for research, education, and community engagement.”

The Center for Digital and Technological Innovation in Healthcare will invite students and faculty to collaboratively develop solutions that advance health care.

Twelve faculty fellows from College of Health and Human Services, Lyles College of Engineering, College of Science and Mathematics, Craig’s School of Business, and Kremen School of Education and Human Development are teaming on the initiative.

This cross-collaboration ensures the center is in tune with student needs across different departments, promoting a diverse approach and use, Hajela said.

Its first order of business is hosting the Frontiers in AI and Digital Health Innovation Summit 2026 on Tuesday, April 28. The event will double as a grand opening of the center, featuring a ribbon cutting.

The center has had no fiscal impact on the university, existing entirely online, according to a university spokesperson.

Fresno State Center Helps Prepares Students for Job Market

This is a first-of-its-kind center for the Central Valley, which is considered a health care desert.

“I just thought that that’s a very missed out opportunity for our students if they don’t have a center like this one in their own backyard,” Hajela said. “We need to make sure that our students are ready for jobs nationally.”

The center will advance student learning, preparing them for a competitive job market.

Additionally, it will help build the local workforce and promote economic growth, ensuring workers are digitally literate.

This will support students in understanding new technology, its limitations, and ethical boundaries. And the center will support professors in becoming more tech-savvy — using digital health tools and AI.

Hajela, a tele-health expert, used the platform, which is growing in prominence, as an example.

“I have seen that there are areas where tele-health works and there are areas where tele-health doesn’t work,” she said. “It is important as a student to weigh in on and use clinical decision-making to know when exactly you need to use those tools.”

Helping students understand these platforms and tools will prepare them for future technological integrations in health care. For this to happen, these various departments need to start talking to each other to advance understanding and support, Hajela said.

“It’s time to evolve and it’s time to make sure that we are ahead of the curve and we are not trying to play catch with where the curve is going in health care innovation,” she said.

Frontiers in AI and Digital Health Innovation Summit

The summit brings together leaders from across healthcare, technology, and academia to explore how emerging technologies are transforming healthcare.

It will feature research presentation and two panels focused on technological advances in health care.

Dr. Katherine Kim, founder and CEO of Health Tequity Inc., is a keynote speaker. Health Tequity is a foundation bringing together health care and technology, similarly to what the center is hoping to accomplish.

“We can learn a lot from her when it comes to AI and digital health because she saw it from just an idea to, again, implementing it,” Hajela said. “It’s not just important to have a good idea. It’s important to act on it, and that’s what we are trying to do with the center.”

Alongside Kim, Aviv Elor, chief research officer and co-founder of Immergo Labs, will deliver a presentation on virtual reality and telehealth in physical therapy.

Immergo is changing the way people think about physical therapy, allowing doctors to treat patients remotely, Hajela said.

Attendees will be able to ask questions about technology, health care, and research.

The summit is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University Business Center at Fresno State. The center will provide food and drinks.

Those interested in attending can register for free here. The form includes a detailed timeline of the event, parking information, and learning objectives.