Leading AI Innovation in Health Care: Turning an AI Pitch into a Startup

As the CEO and head of AI at SaludAlma, a mission-driven startup at the intersection of AI and health care, Jaime Aguirre has long been attuned to the ways in which innovation shapes the future of work. His 34-year career spans a range of technology roles across industries, from cloud computing and software development to project management and artificial intelligence (AI). As AI reshapes industries around the world, he finds himself increasingly drawn to its transformative potential in one of the most complex and high-stakes sectors: health care.

What stood out to him was how different this wave of innovation felt. Unlike previous digital revolutions, AI integration isn’t solely driven by technologists—it requires deep collaboration with subject experts. 

“I realized that the future of AI in any industry, especially health care, requires the in-depth knowledge of both technologists and clinicians,” Aguirre explains. “That co-management is unique to health care, and it’s something I haven’t seen at this level in other sectors.”

That insight, along with a strong commitment to lifelong learning, ultimately led Aguirre to enroll in Leading AI Innovation in Health Care, a postgraduate certificate program from Harvard Medical School. The program is designed to prepare both health care professionals and industry leaders to guide responsible AI adoption across clinical settings. Aguirre was especially drawn to its emphasis on pragmatic innovation frameworks and its distinguished faculty leadership, including Roger Daglius Dias, MD, PhD, MBA  and Marc D. Succi, MD of Mass General Brigham, both recognized experts at the forefront of AI in medicine.

“Every word in the course title intrigued me—AI, health care, innovation,” he says. “It was a 100% match for what I was looking for.” The opportunity to engage with clinicians and health care leaders actively integrating AI into their daily practice fueled new ideas for Aguirre. 

As a blended certificate program, Leading AI Innovation in Health Care offers a multiday in-person experience in Boston, MA, including Mass General Brigham’s Innovation MESH Core: Healthcare Innovation Bootcamp and site visits to various AI labs within the Harvard Medical School network. Following the in-person immersion, participants complete the program virtually, attending faculty-led sessions and developing an AI project to present to a Health Care AI Innovation Panel for expert feedback.

Innovation Through a Shared Vision

From the very first day, Aguirre found the networking opportunities in the program to be among his most valuable experiences. He connected with clinicians from a wide range of health care specialties, faculty leaders at the forefront of AI, and peers who shared his curiosity about what this technological revolution means for the future of medicine. Faculty members like Roger Daglius Dias director of research and innovation at the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation, actively engaged with participants to trigger dialogue and forward-thinking discussion.

“There was a welcome dinner on day one, and I was seated at Dr. Dias’s table,” Aguirre recalls. “From the moment I sat down, people were talking about ideas—real, innovative, applicable ideas—for how AI could transform their discipline. It was incredibly energizing.”

With a professional background in technology, Aguirre found it fascinating to hear fellow participants share not only their ideas for AI applications, but also real-world projects already underway. These conversations, grounded in shared challenges and a commitment to advancing patient care, sparked inspiration. What began as a concept for the program’s final AI pitch presentation evolved into his project with lasting potential. It became the foundation for a future AI-driven solution that would extend well beyond his time in the program.

The Birth of a Startup 

The idea for Aguirre’s startup, SaludAlma, began to take shape during some of the earliest conversations in the Leading AI Innovation in Health Care program. As project groups formed in preparation for the final pitch assignment, Aguirre shared his vision for an AI-driven health care software company focused on developing responsive solutions to challenges across clinical disciplines. His idea connected him with a group of peers who shared similar ambitions and brought a wide range of backgrounds to the table.

Leading AI Innovation in Health Care concludes with a final pitch project to a Health Care AI Innovation Panel in which groups receive feedback on their work from expert Harvard faculty members. “The panelists were tremendous with their feedback. They were spot on with what they uncovered, and I think their insight really helped the product,” Aguirre says.

Shortly after the program concluded, Aguirre invited his group members to take their project beyond the classroom and turn it into a real-world health care AI venture.

“We’re not building just one application,” Aguirre explains. “Our goal is to address pain points across medical disciplines—one project might involve cardiology, the next ophthalmology. It’s about identifying where clinicians are struggling and building AI-powered solutions to support them.”

Aguirre now works full-time on SaludAlma, with the team aiming to launch their first product by year’s end. “The drive, insight, and collaboration from this group—it’s remarkable. These are people who are not only experts in their field, but also deeply passionate about improving health care through technology.”

For Aguirre, Leading AI Innovation in Health Care wasn’t just an academic opportunity. It was a catalyst. “From day one, I knew I was in the right place. This program attracted people who are truly ahead of the curve, and I’m grateful to now be working alongside them to bring innovative AI solutions into the health care space.”

Written by: Meredith Faxon