Each year, CES sets the tone for where technology is headed — and in recent editions, health innovation has taken center stage. I had the great fortune this week, of interviewing René Quashie, Vice President of Digital Health at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) — the organization behind the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. René leads the charge on digital health policy, strategy, and ecosystem development in health and wellness across one of the world’s most influential technology platforms.
In our conversation, René shared his perspective on what made CES 2025 a breakthrough year for digital health, from AI-powered tools and next-gen wearables to remote patient monitoring, digital therapeutics, and a renewed focus on aging and accessibility technologies. He also offered a glimpse into what’s to come in 2026 — and why CES is now a must-attend event for anyone shaping the future of healthcare.
What made this exchange particularly exciting was René’s vantage point on a critical shift: the convergence of regulated clinical care with consumer-grade innovation. From continuous glucose monitors linked to provider platforms to AI-driven diagnostics and software-based therapeutics, digital health is no longer in a binary situation of “clinic “or “gadget” — it’s becoming a seamless layer across care pathways and everyday life. CES isn’t just reflecting that trend; it’s actively shaping it.
Digital Health at CES 2025
Denise Silber (DS): Can you remind us of some of the key figures regarding the presence of digital health at CES? I know you’re particularly proud of the program content.
René Quashie (RQ): CES 2025’s Digital Health Summit featured a series of conference sessions and events. The debut of the Future of Health conference track brought in health leaders like Abbott, Deloitte, HS4A, and Fortune to discuss innovative technology developments in health and drove high attendance and engagement. With over 100 exhibitors in the Digital Health category, the Venetian saw representatives from every facet of the Digital Health industry showcasing innovations.
The AARP AgeTech Collaborative added to the robust health conversations with a separate mainstage. A standout as always, attendees packed the room for the Digital Health Mixer you attended, which remains the largest event of the Digital Health program, bringing together CES health speakers, attendees, and exhibitors. Digital Health has a broad reach at CES 2025, and across all stages and platforms, we have nearly over 40 sessions of recorded content available for on-demand viewing at CES.tech.
Health Tech on the Floor: AI, Wearables, and Accessibility
DS: Which digital health technologies stood out to you on the floor? AI in health of course… and others?
RQ: Health monitoring via wearables and other technologies, sleep technology, and next-gen hearing tech are huge — and the sector is only growing. Consumers are looking for better ways to manage their own health, which can be seen in products from monitoring key metrics to continuous glucose monitors.
Accessibility tech continues to have a strong presence on the show floor. Eureka Park hosted several standouts in digital therapeutics and assistive tech for direct-to-consumer purchase, such as TomBot*, developers of a robotic therapy pet, and MakeSense, who produce navigational technology for the visually impaired.
Regulated Health Tools and Remote Monitoring
DS: What about the products that require a healthcare professional’s intervention and more regulatory approval? Which categories or tools stood out?
RQ: CES 2025 marked a banner year for innovations in remote patient monitoring. Devices catering to chronic disease management, such as advanced continuous glucose monitoring systems that integrate directly with healthcare provider platforms, are increasingly popular as adoption and demand go up over time. These products highlight the integration of regulated clinical care and cutting-edge consumer technology.
CES Innovation Awards: Digital Health Trends
DS: How has the selection of award-winning products in digital health at CES been evolving? What tips might you have for those thinking of submitting their candidacies?
RQ: This won’t be a surprise, but the accelerated development in AI is clearly demonstrated in the most recent pool of CES Innovation Awards® winning technologies. The innovations span all product categories and allow for a robust and diverse display of AI use cases improving the lives and healthcare opportunities of millions of patients.
We are seeing major strides in AI image enhancement of X-rays and 3D visualizations, and AI-enhanced customization in software-enabled digital therapeutics technologies.
What’s Ahead for CES 2026?
DS: What do you know already about the contents you anticipate at CES 2026?
RQ: We will continue to highlight the future of health care at CES 2026, and we anticipate focusing on areas such as personalized medicine and genomics, increased use of foundation AI models in health, next-gen wearables, advances in women’s health tech, and health-at-home solutions. CES wants to highlight how health will undergo dramatic changes for the better, driven by technology. We will also underscore how non-traditional players are partnering with traditional healthcare organizations to empower consumers to better manage their own health.
DS: Thank you so much René. We’re all looking forward to the next edition!
About René Quashie
René Quashie is the first Vice President of Digital Health at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Quashie provides guidance on key technical, legal, and regulatory issues relating to digital health technology products, services, software, and apps. He also works on behalf of CTA’s Health Division, which supports the health technology industry through advocacy, education, research, standards work, and policy initiatives.
Prior to CTA, Quashie spent two decades in private law practice at several national firms, focusing his work on digital health and privacy. He earned his law degree from George Washington University.
Digital health is moving fast — and so are the conversations that shape it. Don’t hesitate to share on the LinkedIn Post, your takeaways or questions from this interview. Denise Silber
*Tombot