About
Titles
Associate Dean, Digital Strategy & Transformation, Office of the Dean, YSM; Professor in Biomedical Informatics & Data Sciences, YSM; Professor of Neurology, YSM; Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Health Officer, YNHHS
Biography
Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, MD is Associate Dean for Digital Strategy and Transformation for Yale School of Medicine, and Senior Vice President + Chief Digital Health Officer for Yale New Haven Health System. In this role, he is leading the development of a new digital health strategy for the school and the health system, and serves as an influential physician leader and an agent of change to catalyze the equitable adoption of virtual care and digital enablement throughout the enterprise.
Before joining Yale, Dr. Schwamm spent 3 decades of service at the Mass General Brigham Health System in academic and administrative leadership roles. He was the inaugural C. Miller Fisher Chair in Vascular Neurology, Executive Vice Chair of Neurology and Director of the Center for TeleHealth at Massachusetts General Hospital; Vice President for Digital Patient Experience and Virtual Care, and Chief Digital Advisor for the Mass General Brigham Health System, and a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He oversaw all systemwide virtual care and telehealth activities including synchronous and synchronous virtual visits and consults, remote patient monitoring, virtual urgent care and online second opinions. During the first 6 months of COVID, he led adoption efforts for 10,000 clinicians to provide over 1.7 M virtual visits, and introduced a suite of innovative inpatient virtual solutions.
A graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, he completed residency training in neurology, and fellowship training in stroke and neurocritical care, all at Massachusetts General Hospital where he subsequently joined the faculty in 1996. He has spent the past 2 decades in telehealth, as a pioneer in telestroke and a leading advocate and policy advisor for the American Heart Association. He is a an internationally recognized expert in stroke diagnosis, treatment and prevention and a Fellow of the American Heart Association, American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association. His research has been funded by many organizations including the NIH, AHA, PCORI, AHRQ, HRSA, CDC, and others, and he is the author of >500 peer-reviewed articles and chaired many of the current practice guidelines for stroke and telehealth-enabled care delivery. Under his leadership, the AHA Get with the Guidelines–Stroke Registry has grown into the world’s largest stroke registry with over 8M patient encounters; it has changed stroke practice at hospitals across the US, and set a global standard for stroke care. He has received numerous awards for innovation, leadership, and advocacy in the field of stroke and digital health, and held many senior leadership positions within the AHA, including service on their National Board of Directors. He has served on multiple editorial boards, including the digital health section editor for Stroke, and the international advisory board for Lancet Digital Health.
Appointments
Office of the Dean, School of Medicine
Associate DeanDualBiomedical Informatics & Data Science
ProfessorSecondaryNeurology
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Biomedical Informatics & Data Science
- Digital Technology Solutions Leadership
- Neurology
- Office of the Dean, School of Medicine
- Virtual Care Consensus
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Massachusetts General Hospital (1996)
- Residency
- Massachusetts General Hospital (1995)
- Internship
- Beth Israel Hospital (1992)
- MD
- Harvard Medical School, Medicine (1991)
- AB
- Harvard University, Philosophy (1985)
Research
Publications
2025
The Effect of Ambient Artificial Intelligence Scribes on Trainee Documentation Burden.
Wright DS, Kanaparthy N, Melnick ER, Levy DR, Huot SJ, Hsiao A, Schwamm L, Ong SY. The Effect of Ambient Artificial Intelligence Scribes on Trainee Documentation Burden. Appl Clin Inform 2025 PMID: 40602775, DOI: 10.1055/a-2647-1142.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImpact of Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Renedo D, Rivier C, Koo A, Clocchiatti‐Tuozzo S, Huo S, Sujijantarat N, Torres‐Lopez V, Hebert R, Schwamm L, de Havenon A, Gunel M, Matouk C, Falcone G, Sheth K. Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2025, 14: e037199. PMID: 40194963, PMCID: PMC12132901, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.037199.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial determinants of healthSocial deprivation indexDeterminants of healthImpact of social determinants of healthDeprivation indexLength of stayInfluence of social determinants of healthOdds ratioDischarge dispositionHigher social deprivation indexAssociated with reduced oddsAverage length of stayVascular risk factorsAssociated with longer lengthSocial determinantsSignificant health burdenEstimate associationsIn-hospital deathNontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhageSocioeconomic levelHealth burdenOverall mortality rateDecreased deathRisk factorsHealthWhole-brain white matter variation across childhood environments
Carozza S, Kletenik I, Astle D, Schwamm L, Dhand A. Whole-brain white matter variation across childhood environments. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2025, 122: e2409985122. PMID: 40193606, PMCID: PMC12012481, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2409985122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentAssociated with later difficultiesFractional anisotropyWhite matter fractional anisotropyWhite matter FAGray matter maturationWhite matter differencesEffects of adversityLower white matter fractional anisotropyLowest values of FACourse of childhoodExperience-dependent mannerInterpersonal adversityGray matter regionsReceptive languageCognitive effectsDevelopmental theoryEarly environmentCognitive outcomesCognitive developmentNeighborhood adversityChildhood environmentCross-sectional associationsMatter regionsAdversityDifferences in patterns of outpatient epilepsy‐specific medication initiation after acute ischemic stroke in the Medicare population
Donahue M, Brooks J, Hsu J, Price M, Blacker D, Schwamm L, Newhouse J, Westover M, Haneuse S, Moura L. Differences in patterns of outpatient epilepsy‐specific medication initiation after acute ischemic stroke in the Medicare population. Epilepsia 2025 PMID: 40184019, DOI: 10.1111/epi.18396.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-Hispanic whitesOlder age groupsAcute ischemic strokeAge groupsCommunity-dwelling beneficiariesNon-Hispanic White beneficiariesUS Medicare beneficiariesCumulative incidenceYear of dischargeUS geographic regionsAdministrative claims dataUS census divisionsIschemic strokeHospitalization causeRacial/ethnic differencesMedicare beneficiariesOlder adultsWhite beneficiariesBlack/African AmericanMedicare populationClaims dataHispanic beneficiariesHospital regionMedication initiationInpatient readmissionsOutcomes Following Minimally Invasive Surgery for Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the AHA Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Registry
Murthy S, Zhang C, Garton A, Mac Grory B, Shah S, Fonarow G, Schwamm L, Bhatt D, Smith E, Falcone G, Payabvash S, Ziai W, Knopman J, Matouk C, Mocco J, Kamel H, Sheth K. Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Surgery for Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the AHA Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Registry. Stroke 2025, 56: 1441-1450. PMID: 40177744, PMCID: PMC12101937, DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.124.048650.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImpact of minimally invasive surgeryIn-hospital mortalityMinimally invasive surgeryAssociated with lower in-hospital mortalityLower in-hospital mortalityNontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhageIntracerebral hemorrhageSurgical evacuationFunctional outcomesEfficacy of minimally invasive surgeryEndoscopic surgeryStereotactic surgeryInvasive surgeryGuidelines-Stroke registryIntracranial hemorrhage subtypesCohort of patientsIntracerebral hemorrhage outcomesAssociated with lower mortalityRetrospective cohort studyIn-hospital deathFavorable discharge dispositionRandomized clinical trialsDischarge dispositionMultiple logistic regressionGuidelines-StrokeBenzodiazepine Initiation and the Risk of Falls or Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults Following Acute Ischemic Stroke
Sun S, Lomachinsky V, Smith L, Newhouse J, Westover M, Blacker D, Schwamm L, Haneuse S, Moura L. Benzodiazepine Initiation and the Risk of Falls or Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults Following Acute Ischemic Stroke. Neurology Clinical Practice 2025, 15: e200452. PMID: 40144887, PMCID: PMC11936338, DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000200452.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFall-related injuriesRisk of fallsOlder adultsAcute ischemic strokeRisk differenceAcute ischemic stroke admissionsElectronic health recordsHypothetical randomized trialInverse probability weightingIschemic strokeRecovery periodHealth recordsBenzodiazepine initiationPoststroke periodConfounding biasImmortal timeMild strokeBenzodiazepine prescriptionsBZD useDay of admissionProbability weightingSubgroup analysisAnalyzed dataStrokeAdultsShort-Term Safety and Effectiveness for Tenecteplase and Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Rousseau J, Weber J, Alhanti B, Saver J, Messé S, Schwamm L, Fonarow G, Sheth K, Smith E, Mullen M, Silva G, Mac Grory B, Xian Y, Warach S. Short-Term Safety and Effectiveness for Tenecteplase and Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke. JAMA Network Open 2025, 8: e250548. PMID: 40072434, PMCID: PMC11904722, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0548.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdjusted odds ratiosHospice dischargeIn-hospital mortalityNational Institutes of Health Stroke ScaleComparative effectiveness studiesSymptomatic intracranial hemorrhageFunctional independenceAcute ischemic strokeGuidelines-Stroke registryIschemic strokeHospital-level variablesClinical practiceEffectiveness studiesSafety outcomesMedian National Institutes of Health Stroke ScaleHealth Stroke ScaleMedian National InstitutesLinear mixed modelsMain OutcomesIndependent ambulationGeneralized linear mixed modelsHospiceOdds ratioDischarged homePatients treated with intravenous thrombolysisEfficacy and safety of intravenous alteplase for unknown onset stroke on prior antiplatelet therapy: Post hoc analysis of the EOS individual participant data
Shiomi Y, Miwa K, Jensen M, Inoue M, Yoshimura S, Kamogawa N, Fukuda-Doi M, Ma H, Ringleb P, Wu O, Schwamm L, Davis S, Donnan G, Gerloff C, Nakahara J, Toyoda K, Thomalla G, Koga M. Efficacy and safety of intravenous alteplase for unknown onset stroke on prior antiplatelet therapy: Post hoc analysis of the EOS individual participant data. International Journal Of Stroke 2025, 20: 679-686. PMID: 39921231, PMCID: PMC12182598, DOI: 10.1177/17474930251322034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSymptomatic intracranial hemorrhagePrevalence of vascular risk factorsIntravenous alteplaseSafety of intravenous alteplaseIndividual participant dataEffect of intravenous alteplaseControl groupVascular risk factorsRandomized controlled trialsRisk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhageDays post-strokeRate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhagePost-strokeAlteplase groupAntiplatelet therapy groupParticipant dataSafety outcomesAntiplatelet therapyStroke thrombolysisAntiplatelet therapy patientsControlled trialsBaseline dataModified Rankin Scale scoreFavorable outcomeRisk factorsEffects of sex on imaging-based intravenous thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke with unknown onset time: a pooled analysis of clinical trials.
Fukuda-Doi M, Koga M, Thomalla G, Jensen M, Inoue M, Yoshimura S, Miwa K, Gerloff C, Davis S, Donnan G, Ma H, Hacke W, Ringleb P, Wu O, Schwamm L, Warach S, Toyoda K. Effects of sex on imaging-based intravenous thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke with unknown onset time: a pooled analysis of clinical trials. European Stroke Journal 2025, 23969873241309512. PMID: 39749428, PMCID: PMC11696941, DOI: 10.1177/23969873241309512.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFavorable outcomeIntravenous thrombolysisPooled analysis of individual patient-level dataPooled analysisClinical trialsBaseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scoreSex-based differencesPooled analysis of clinical trialsIschaemic strokeNational Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scoreSevere clinical statusIndividual patient-level dataStroke Scale scorePatient-level dataAnalysis of clinical trialsOrdinal regression modelAtrial fibrillationPatient sexClinical statusMultivariable adjustmentFemale sexThrombolysis trialsOnset timePrimary outcomeFunctional outcomes
2024
Mobile Stroke Unit Management in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Eligible for Intravenous Thrombolysis
Mac Grory B, Sun J, Alhanti B, Lusk J, Li F, Adeoye O, Furie K, Hasan D, Messe S, Sheth K, Schwamm L, Smith E, Bhatt D, Fonarow G, Saver J, Xian Y, Grotta J. Mobile Stroke Unit Management in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Eligible for Intravenous Thrombolysis. JAMA Neurology 2024, 81: 1250-1262. PMID: 39466286, PMCID: PMC11581552, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.3659.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmergency medical servicesEmergency medical service managementMobile stroke unitPrehospital managementSymptomatic intracranial hemorrhageHospital dischargeGlobal disabilityIn-hospital mortalityEfficacy end pointUtility-weighted modified Rankin scaleStroke unit managementAcute ischemic strokeIschemic strokePrimary analytic cohortDiagnosis of ischemic strokeIntravenous thrombolysisAmerican Heart AssociationEnd pointsGuidelines-StrokeUW-mRSSecondary efficacy end pointsMain OutcomesMedical servicesStroke unitAmbulation status
Clinical Care
Overview
Lee H. Schwamm, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). His research and clinical interests focus on stroke in the young and those whose strokes are without apparent cause (called cryptogenic strokes). He has been a leader in stroke clinical research, and has participated in the design or conduct of major trials that have defined how stroke is currently measured and treated, and how the guideline-recommended treatments are actually administered when patients are hospitalized for stroke. He deeply enjoys mentoring emerging leaders in academic medicine, and his work has been recognized by major grants and awards, including several of the highest volunteer awards from the American Heart Association.
In addition to his expertise in stroke, Dr. Schwamm is a leader in digital health and digital transformation. He realized early on that his work as a neurologist could be augmented with the infusion of big data, technology, and focusing on improving the processes of how health care is delivered. This translates to redesigning care delivery through the human-centered lens of the experiences of patients and providers, and letting the clinical problem drive what technology can be used to make things better (and not the other way around). “We have a real opportunity now to start capturing a lot more information about our patients in the parts of their life beyond the clinic and the hospital, such as with monitors, sensors, and smartphones, to regularly collect weight, activity, or blood pressure and transmit those results to the electronic medical record,” Dr. Schwamm says. By doing so, doctors can build a smarter profile of their patients, tailor treatments to them as individuals, and get their risk factors under control faster and more safely.
“I’ve always been drawn to the brain,” says Dr. Schwamm. “This fascination began when I chose to major in philosophy in college, and it drove me to choose neurology as my specialty. Within neurology, I gravitated to stroke because of the new treatments that had just emerged that could halt or reverse the damage being caused to the brain. I was able to make a major contribution by developing the ability to leverage technology to increase access to stroke specialists and improve outcomes for all stroke patients, not just those lucky enough to live near a major stroke center.”
Dr. Schwamm also serves as senior vice president and chief digital health officer for Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) and as a professor in Biomedical Informatics & Data Sciences at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). As the associate dean for digital strategy and transformation, he is leading the development of a new digital health strategy for YSM and YNHH. Dr. Schwamm has done extensive research and is especially interested in patterns of care delivery for stroke in the United States; how patients move from one health system to another during emergencies, before or after their stroke; and opportunities to identify and eliminate inequities in care.
“I often say, my car gets better health care than I do. Most patients show up in my office when they have the equivalent of a flat tire, or have run out of gas, or have an engine that is overheated, metaphorically speaking,” he says, “Our job as health care providers is to intervene before those critical events happen.”
All my goals really boil down to removing the barriers between patients and the care they need, Dr. Schwamm adds. “One way is to build high-reliability systems wherever we can so that we don't rely on people doing the right thing every time with good intention, but rather, we have systems that support us in doing that right thing every time.”
Clinical Specialties
News
News
- November 25, 2024Source: WTNH
How A.I. is Already Predicting Medical Outcomes in Connecticut
- October 24, 2024
Is It AI? Peer Reviewers Struggle to Distinguish LLMs From Human Writing
- October 23, 2024
Telehealth Is Just as Effective as In-person Care, Study Finds
- September 26, 2024Source: CT Mirror
CT companies put AI to work, but regulation remains uncertain
Get In Touch
Contacts
Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street - SHM - I-213 , (PO Box 208067)
New Haven, CT 06520-8067
United States