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Episode #

43

Cybersecurity as Patient Safety: A 2026 CMIO Playbook

Cybersecurity no longer sits in the background of healthcare operations. In Cybersecurity as Patient Safety, Dr. Sean Kelly, Chief Medical Officer at Imprivata; Dr. Christian Dameff, emergency physician and cybersecurity researcher at UC San Diego; and Steven Ramirez, Chief Technology & Security Officer at Renown Health examine how ransomware, outages, and identity threats now directly impact patient safety, clinical decision-making, and care continuity. The conversation moves past compliance checklists to explore evidence-based security, clinical downtime readiness, and how thoughtful design can protect patients without slowing care. If cybersecurity still feels like an IT issue, this episode reframes it as a clinical responsibility.

EPISODE GUESTS

Christian Dameff

UCSD Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity

Emergency Physician & Co-Director

Dr. Christian Dameff, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and a leading researcher in the field of cybersecurity and healthcare. Currently serving as the Medical Director of Cybersecurity at UC San Diego Health, he focuses on the intersection of clinical practice and digital infrastructure, specifically investigating the vulnerabilities of medical devices and electronic health records to cyberattacks. A prominent voice in medical cybersecurity, he frequently speaks and publishes on the impact of ransomware, hacking, and technological failures on patient safety and healthcare system resilience. His academic and clinical work aims to bridge the gap between information technology security and clinical operations, helping hospitals prepare for and respond to emerging digital threats while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Sean Kelly

Imprivata

Chief Medical Officer and SVP Customer Strategy

Dr. Sean Kelly, MD, is a veteran digital health executive and practicing emergency physician who serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy, Healthcare at Imprivata. In this executive capacity, he shapes the company's go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and customer experience initiatives, specializing in digital identity and security technologies that enhance clinician productivity and workflow efficiency. Dr. Kelly has balanced his corporate leadership with a 25-year tenure as an emergency physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where he previously served as the Director of Graduate Medical Education. He is also a part-time Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an accomplished medical author, and the co-founder of Lifeguard Medical Group, an innovative mobile concierge emergency practice. Dr. Kelly completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard College, earned his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and completed his emergency medicine residency and Chief Residency at Vanderbilt University.

Steven Ramirez

Renown Health

Chief Information Security & Technology Officer

Steven Ramirez, MHA, MSc, CISM, is a veteran healthcare technology and cybersecurity executive who serves as the Vice President and Chief Information Security and Technology Officer at Renown Health. In this expanded dual leadership capacity, he directs the organization's overarching enterprise technology strategy, system infrastructure, and data protection frameworks to ensure clinical operations are resilient and secure. With more than fifteen years of IT leadership experience, Ramirez has managed complex cybersecurity portfolios across the healthcare, financial, and government sectors. His extensive career background includes serving as the Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at UofL Health, an IT Security and Privacy Officer at IBM, and a part-time member of the teaching staff for Harvard University's cybersecurity risk management program. Holding two master's degrees alongside his Certified Information Security Manager credential, he specializes in building next-generation cyber defense strategies, navigating complex federal regulatory frameworks, and aligning digital infrastructure directly with corporate health system goals.
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