PATH Appoints Bilal Mateen as Inaugural Chief AI Officer

(US and Canada) PATH, a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity, announced the appointment of Dr. Bilal Mateen as its Chief AI Officer. In this newly created role, Mateen will lead PATH's efforts to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate progress toward a world where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life.

Mateen brings to the role a wealth of experience in AI and technology leadership. He most recently served as Executive Director of Digital Square where he supported ministries of health across Africa and Asia with effective planning, procurement, and implementation of technology to help address the global health equity gap. He also served as principal investigator, overseeing more than $250 million in grants and contracts focused on digital health transformation in low-resource environments.

A physician by training, Mateen has an academic background in health-related applications of data science and machine learning.

"We are thrilled Bilal is crossing this frontier with us," said PATH CEO Nikolaj Gilbert. "His deep expertise in AI and his passion for using technology to solve global challenges make him the ideal person to lead our AI efforts. We're excited to collaborate and support countries in harnessing the power of ethically and effectively applied AI to improve public health, reaching communities in need and transforming lives for a healthier future. We're confident that Bilal will help us realize that potential."

Mateen will be responsible for developing and implementing PATH's AI strategy, which will focus on using AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of PATH's programs, as well as to develop new health solutions. He will also work to build partnerships with other organizations in the AI and health sectors.

"I am honored to be the first to hold this groundbreaking role," said Mateen. "I am deeply passionate about the role of research in advancing ethical and inclusive applications of artificial intelligence to improve lives. I believe that AI has the power to revolutionize the way we address global health challenges, and I am excited to work with the talented team at PATH to harness that power."

Mateen completed his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Medical Sciences and his medical training at University College London. He subsequently completed his Master of Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, and his PhD at Kings College London. Alongside his role at PATH, he continues to hold an honorary professorial appointment at University College London and he held a fellowship at the Alan Turing Institute (the UK's national institute for data science and artificial intelligence). He also holds a number of other fellowships in recognition of his world-leading expertise in the field.