In an era obsessed with what’s new, 2026 belongs to what’s proven.
For Houston Methodist’s chief innovation officer, Roberta Schwartz, this is the year ideas grow up. Instead of chasing the next big disruption, she’s focused on deepening, strengthening and evolving the innovations that already work — turning pilots into platforms and experiments into everyday infrastructure.
Her word of the year: Maturation.
Imagine a world where your doctor's visit feels less like a rushed checklist and more like a seamless conversation powered by invisible tech. That's the promise of maturation—Houston Methodist Chief Innovation Officer Roberta Schwartz's word for 2026.
No more shiny pilots that fizzle. Schwartz's team, fresh off ambient voice tech that frees doctors from note-taking drudgery and wearables that track vitals 24/7, is now in scale-up mode. "We've ideated, piloted, and accelerated for four years," she says. "2026 takes our strongest bets and weaves them into daily life."
Think: a 36-room AI pilot exploding to 200+ operating rooms, boosting surgical volume 15% without extra staff. Now it's morphing into "Smart Spaces"—ambient intelligence across endoscopy, radiology, and live tracking boards. "We've proven intelligent infrastructure works," Schwartz says. "Maturation means expanding what delivers real ROI, not chasing unproven hype."
Real Life, Real Results
Schwartz wears two hats—innovation boss and hospital CEO—which keeps her grounded. Her DIOP team (that's "digital innovation obsessed people") mixes IT wizards with frontline operators. The result? Tech that fits your doctor's workflow, not some lab fantasy.
"Clinicians adopt what feels practical and culturally right," she explains. Houston Methodist doesn't just test—they share battlefield intel with partners, maturing tools faster for everyone. It's the ultimate glow-up: from experiment to essential.
The Human Side of Smart
Maturation isn't just code—it's culture. Schwartz's workforce is digitally fluent; now it's about making AI feel like your favorite playlist, not a foreign language. Training shows why these tools matter, turning "cool idea" into "I can't live without this."
"Innovation makes what's next work every day," she says. Your appointment? Smoother. Your care? Proactive. Your trust? Built-in.
Why This Matters to You
In 2026, health care stops sprinting for headlines and starts building systems that last. Houston Methodist's "10 Bets for the Intelligent Health Care System" isn't sci-fi—it's your doctor's new normal, delivering better care without the drama.
Schwartz nails it: "Maturation solidifies long-term value."
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