People, Planet, Purpose: A Summit for Health Innovation to Heal Our World
More than 20 World Leaders in Health, Purpose and Planet Innovation Offer Perspectives Timed for NYC Health Innovation Week
On Monday, May 5, 2025, a pressing global conversation will begin, uniting the future of human health and environmental sustainability. The People and Planet United: Global Health & Purpose Summit is more than a virtual gathering; it reinforces the interconnection between the well-being of people and the planet.
This Summit precedes the New York City Health Innovation Week (NYCHIW25), presented by the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, organized by HITLAB, and supported by The Galien Foundation and FINN Partners. NYCHIW25 is a weeklong exploration of the ideas, technologies, and commitments needed to reshape healthcare into a force for good benefiting both humanity and our shared environment.
· Register for the May 5 Global Health & Purpose Summit:
https://1businessworld.com/people-and-planet-united-global-health-purpose-summit
· Register for NYC Health Innovation Week (May 6–8):
https://www.hitlab.org/nychiw-2025
The Climate Challenge is a Health Call-to-Action
Environmental degradation is no longer a distant threat — it is a pressing reality. The rise in respiratory disease, cardiovascular events, heat-related illness, and mental health distress are consequences of a strained planet. Health systems, patients, and vulnerable communities are already feeling the weight.
Amid this urgency emerges the opportunity for transformation. Hospitals, once high-consumption institutions, can become champions of sustainability. Health systems are reducing their environmental impact by embracing digital health, telemedicine, and AI-driven diagnostics — solutions that decentralize care, reduce emissions and expand access.
The People and Planet United Summit convenes global leaders to explore how innovation can lead to an equitable, sustainable, and scalable future. It brings together health, science, policy, and purpose — not as silos but as a collaborative approach to healing.
Visionary Voices, Actionable Ideas
The power of this Summit lies in its people — those leading change across industries and continents:
Sriman Banerjee of Takeda Pharmaceuticals will address sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry through the lens of “Healthcare Packaging and Sustainability.”
Yahya El Mir, CEO of Ziwig Biotech, will explore how molecular biology and artificial intelligence reshape diagnostics and treatment in “Innovation in Women’s Health.”
Elizabeth Hansen of the University of Washington will introduce “Project Spruce,” which is focused on reducing anesthesia-related emissions while maintaining quality care.
Eyal Harel of BlueGreen Water Technologies, joined by Kerry Duggan and Sweta Chakraborty, will examine water security as a core human right in “Securing Our Future.”
David Farber of King & Spalding will bring legal and regulatory insights critical to advancing health equity and innovation, outlining how the new administration will influence access to innovation.
Jacques Marescaux of IRCAD will unveil advancements in “Artificial Intelligence & Robotics in Surgery” — a look into the future of minimally invasive and intelligent care.
Amy Terpeluk of FINN Partners will speak on “Purpose and Social Impact in an Era of Change,” offering insight into how mission-driven organizations must evolve in response to global pressures.
Other featured speakers include Rehan Khan of MSD India, William Taranto of the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Juho Jalkanen of Faron, Julien de Salaberry of Galen Growth, and Bijay Singh of DKSH. Each lends a unique perspective to this cross-sector dialogue.
This engaging day of sessions will conclude with an in-person networking reception kicking off NYC Health Innovation Week hosted by FINN Partners in New York City (RSVP Required). It’s a unique opportunity to connect with global experts, investors, advocates, and health innovators.
From Summit to Solution
The momentum continues from May 6–8 with New York City Health Innovation Week, where the spotlight turns to breakthrough technologies, AI, and digital therapeutics. These innovations must be more than advanced; they must be just, accessible, and planet-conscious.
As Professor Stan Kachnowski, PhD MPA CIBE, Chair of HITLAB, says: “Digital technologies are changing the health sector at an unprecedented pace.” That pace must be matched with purpose and centered around people’s needs.
People, planet, and purpose are not three separate agendas but a single, urgent mandate. This May 5 Summit invites us to step forward, collaborate boldly, and design a future where healthcare uplifts all people in harmony with the planet we call home.
Let’s move from conversation to collaboration. From innovation to implementation. Let’s lead.
