Meet the Changemakers: David Gray

HIMSS serves the global health information and technology communities with focused operations across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Our members include more than 80,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. The HIMSS staff is made up of change supporters who collaborate with members to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.

David Gray is the Senior Manager of Government Relations and Connected Health Policy with HIMSS. His main policy focus is on connected health issues and fostering a legislative and regulatory framework that promotes innovation and enables and encourages the safe and effective use of connected health technologies. His current role involves leading our engagement on Capitol Hill and developing meaningful and strategic relationships and partnerships with health IT community stakeholders and across of all levels of governments, domestic and international.

How long have you been at HIMSS?

I’ve been at HIMSS four and a half years. My first day was actually the Friday before National Health IT Week 2015 – I was thrown directly into the fire!

How do you support our mission statement?

My focus is on creating policies that empower all healthcare stakeholders with the tools and resources they need by unleashing the power of information and technology. In the midst of this global pandemic, the 12 simple words in our mission statement, “reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology,” carry even greater importance to me. As we work to address the many challenges and gaps highlighted and magnified by the current COVID-19 pandemic, information and technology will play such a critical role in ensuring that every human has access to the high-quality care they need and deserve.

How do you know your work at HIMSS makes a difference?

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is engaging with stakeholders in the healthcare community. The interactions I have with healthcare providers, professionals and patients on how information and technology has transformed their practice, improved care delivery or allowed individuals to take their healthcare into their own hands, just confirms the incredible work every HIMSS employee does every day. For example, when I present on webinars about the recent policy changes the federal government has made to address COVID-19, particularly all the new telehealth waivers and flexibilities, I get the opportunity to educate healthcare providers and other professionals on how they can utilize telehealth and other connected health technologies to engage with patients in ways they’ve never done before.

What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about the work you do at HIMSS?

How much I honestly love working with Congress and the federal government to advance policies that promote the HIMSS mission and vision.