Hims & Hers, the telehealth and wellness company, has appointed Mo Elshenawy as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), signaling a strategic move to further advance its AI-based product initiatives. Elshenawy, a former president and CTO of self-driving car company Cruise, brings with him a wealth of experience from the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. He left Cruise earlier this year after its parent company, General Motors (GM), shut down its autonomous vehicle program.
The decision to hire Elshenawy may seem unconventional given his background in self-driving technology, but Hims & Hers co-founder and CEO Andrew Dudum revealed that it was a deliberate choice. In a conversation, Dudum explained that he specifically sought leaders from the autonomous driving sector due to the parallels between AVs and healthcare, particularly in terms of leveraging technology, data, and AI in high-stakes, high-sensitivity environments where people’s lives are at risk.
Elshenawy, who holds more than 10 patents related to AI, robotics, and autonomous vehicles, shared that the leap from AVs to healthcare isn’t as significant as it may appear. He pointed out that both industries operate under similar conditions, with a focus on real-time, AI-driven decision-making in complex, regulated environments. In both cases, trust and safety are paramount, as healthcare involves people’s lives and autonomous vehicles must navigate intricate systems safely.
Hims & Hers’ Ambitious Growth and AI Integration
Hims & Hers, a San Francisco-based telehealth company, went public in 2021 after merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Originally focused on men’s health, including erectile dysfunction medications and hair loss treatments, the company has rapidly expanded its services to include women’s health, mental health support, and weight loss treatments. The company has treated between 10,000 and 15,000 patients daily and is now turning its attention to AI-driven tools to help diagnose and treat patients more efficiently.
In line with its expanding portfolio, Hims & Hers has been heavily investing in AI technologies to support clinical decision-making. Dudum explained that the company has compiled a massive dataset from millions of patient interactions, which includes anonymized information like clinical visits, prescriptions, and treatment outcomes. This data has become the foundation for training AI models that can assist in diagnosing and treating patients.
One of the company’s notable AI tools, MedMatch, was developed two years ago using the data collected to help doctors recommend mental health treatments. While AI plays a significant role in providing insights, Dudum emphasized that all AI tools at Hims & Hers are designed to complement healthcare professionals. Every recommendation made by the AI is reviewed by a doctor or another healthcare provider, ensuring that human oversight remains central to the clinical decision-making process.
Hims & Hers’ AI models not only offer recommendations but also provide transparency by showing how conclusions were reached. By explaining the reasoning behind the AI’s suggestions, the company hopes to enhance trust and improve decision-making accuracy for healthcare providers.
As Hims & Hers continues to scale its operations, the company is positioning AI as a crucial element of its growth strategy. With the ability to serve a growing patient base, the company is focused on improving the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services through innovative AI solutions. By employing data-driven models, Hims & Hers is looking to revolutionize the way healthcare decisions are made, ensuring that both patients and providers benefit from more personalized and efficient care.
