Leading the Transformation

Barry Stein is an accomplished physician executive, innovation leader, and advisor to startups and venture capital. He has focused on building a world class multi-stakeholder Innovation ecosystem platform to accelerate transformative technologies from ideas to patient impact.  Recognizing AI as an accelerant of healthcare Innovation, Barry has led the enterprise in developing and building the capabilities to unlock the potential of AI for the healthcare system in a safe and secure way.

Barry serves as Chief Clinical Innovation Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Hartford HealthCare (HHC), where he founded and leads the Center for AI Innovation in Healthcare, and practices as a Vascular and Interventional Radiologist. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. His leadership at HHC has spanned roles including Chief Imaging Informatics Officer, Vice Chair of Radiology, Chief of Cardiovascular MRI & CT, and Director of the Advanced Imaging Core Lab. Barry is also a founding member of the UK’s National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

Barry earned his Executive MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, where he remains actively engaged as a mentor, invited lecturer in Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and Dynamic Work Design and a research collaborator in health systems innovation and analytics. He co-founded H2O, a startup with MIT’s Dimitris Bertsimas, focused on optimizing hospital operations using advanced analytics.

Barry trained in Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, where he was Chief Resident and completed fellowships in both MRI as well as Vascular & Interventional Radiology. He holds his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, is board certified by the ABR in Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology and also serves as a board examiner for the ABR.  He is a Fellow of both Society of Interventional Radiology and American Board of Radiology and a recognized pioneer in noninvasive Cardiac and Vascular imaging.

As Senior Director of Innovation and Informatics Operations at Hartford HealthCare, Candace Carlson leads the strategic and operational execution of the health system’s Innovation, Informatics, and  AI agenda. She is the driving force behind the integration of cutting-edge technologies into clinical and operational workflows, ensuring that innovation is grounded in real-world impact.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning healthcare operations, IT, and revenue cycle management, Candace has been instrumental in launching Hartford HealthCare’s Center for AI Innovation and developing its enterprise-wide, multi-modal data platform. She collaborates with top-tier technology partners to bring scalable solutions to life while establishing rigorous governance structures to ensure AI is deployed ethically, responsibly, and effectively.

Candace is known for bridging visionary strategy with pragmatic execution, ensuring that informatics and innovation initiatives align with the organization’s highest priorities. Her work exemplifies the “last mile” of AI—delivering tools that are not only advanced, but also sustainable and transformative at the point of care.

As Operational Director within Hartford HealthCare’s Innovation & Informatics team, Kathleen Martin plays a central role in translating bold strategic vision into tangible outcomes. She leads the implementation of enterprise-level initiatives that integrate emerging technologies into clinical and operational settings—ensuring innovations are scalable, secure, and deeply aligned with patient care goals.

With over 25 years of experience in healthcare IT, operations, and systems integration, Kathleen is a skilled connector between clinicians, administrators, and technologists. She excels at transforming complex technical challenges into actionable solutions that meet frontline needs. Her leadership ensures that the digital transformation journey stays grounded in practical impact and clinical excellence.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Innovation and Informatics Operations, Kathleen is a key voice in Hartford HealthCare’s mission to modernize care delivery through innovation, always balancing technological advancement with patient-centered care.

Andrew Tedford is an innovation-driven healthcare leader with over a decade of experience in administration, analytics, and project management across Connecticut’s major health systems. A PMP-certified strategist, he specializes in turning complex clinical and operational challenges into scalable, data-informed solutions. With a strong track record in process improvement, cross-functional leadership, and public service—including elected office and oversight of a regional water utility—Andrew brings a mission-focused approach to systems innovation. Startups and mission-driven organizations trust his ability to align teams, streamline operations, and deliver measurable impact on a scale.

Kathleen Ewen is the Administrative Associate IV supporting Hartford HealthCare’s Innovation & Informatics department. Since joining the team in August 2024, she has brought automation to evolving workflows, helping to establish organized processes in a rapidly growing department where systems are constantly evolving.

Kathleen plays an integral role in coordinating monthly AI proposals for executive review through the AI Governance process. Her responsibilities span meeting orchestration, agenda development, documentation oversight, and presentation refinement—bringing structure and clarity to the submission process.

What distinguishes Kathleen is her tech-savvy mindset and proactive work ethic. She leverages AI tools in her own workflow and thrives in environments that demand precision, flexibility, and foresight. A trusted collaborator, she brings structure, curiosity, and dedication to a department that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation.

Dr. Steven Zweibel is the Medical Director of Innovation for the Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute and Director of the Cardiac Device Management Program at Hartford Hospital. He is a practicing cardiac electrophysiologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Zweibel holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management with a certificate in Business Analytics and has been deeply engaged in integrating artificial intelligence into cardiovascular care. Through Hartford HealthCare’s long-standing collaboration with MIT and Professor Dimitris Bertsimas, he has contributed to research on predictive modeling aimed at reducing pacemaker implantation following TAVR procedures. Most recently, he partnered with Professor Bertsimas and his team to apply the Holistic AI in Medicine (HAIM) framework to predict left ventricular ejection fraction from ECGs—work presented at the 2025 Heart Rhythm Society Annual Meeting and again at the Yale AI in Healthcare Conference in May 2025, where it earned the Audience Choice Award for Best Pitch and a $25,000 Bronze Prize. His ongoing AI research focuses on leveraging ECG data to predict a range of cardiovascular conditions. Dr. Zweibel is passionate about advancing the safe, transparent, and impactful use of AI to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Phil Kim is a double board-certified trauma/acute care surgeon and surgical critical care intensivist at Hartford Hospital. He is passionate about the care of injured patients, healthcare innovation, and surgical education. Dr. Kim has an MBA background with experience in medical device early-stage prototyping, product development, and clinical trials. He is excited to be part of the Hartford Healthcare Innovation team to introduce new technologies to better take care of our patients.

Kevin Diaz is a Revenue Cycle Optimization & Innovation Director with a proven track record of transforming healthcare revenue operations into high-performing, revenue-generating engines. Expertise in maximizing revenue capture, enhancing efficiency, and reducing costs through strategic initiatives and data-driven process improvement.

Aimee Asante is the Administrative Fellow for the Hartford HealthCare Innovation and Clinical Informatics Department. She recently earned her Master of Health Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Aimee is excited to support the Innovation team’s efforts in advancing new technologies and solutions that improve outcomes for both patients and providers.