Priya Nambisan, an associate professor of health care informatics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health, has emerged as a significant figure in the intersection of technology and health. Her personal health challenges led to groundbreaking innovations in health tracking, particularly for aging populations.
In a pivotal moment, Nambisan experienced severe anxiety that mimicked symptoms of a heart attack while juggling professional responsibilities and family life. “I called my physician, and I was sweating,” she recalled. After a harrowing trip to the emergency room, she learned that her symptoms were due to an anxiety attack, exacerbated by the stress of balancing her academic duties and caring for her two-year-old twins. “Like many other women, my health took a backseat,” Nambisan reflected.
Creating a Comprehensive Health Tool
Determined to understand the factors affecting her health, Nambisan turned to data analysis, utilizing Excel to track various aspects of her life, including stress levels, diet, and resting heart rate. This self-tracking journey inspired her to develop a new health application called My Healing Ecosystem for Self-care & Therapeutic Integration for the Aging (myHESTIA). This app is unique in that it allows users to monitor multiple chronic conditions in one platform, particularly beneficial for the aging population who may not be tech-savvy.
Nambisan emphasizes the importance of tracking health for effective self-management. “Mentally, keeping track doesn’t work. Your brain cheats,” she stated, highlighting the need for external tools to aid in managing health. The application not only supports individual users but also serves as a research tool, enabling Nambisan to analyze how tracking can improve patient outcomes.
Pilot studies have validated myHESTIA’s effectiveness, leading to larger research initiatives. One such study, funded by the Bader Foundation, explores how adult children can monitor the health of their aging parents living in India. The research aims to bridge the communication gap regarding health information, which is often challenging for families separated by distance.
Addressing Mental Health Through Research
As director of the Social Media and Health Research & Training (SMAHRT) and Aging Research & Digital Technologies (ARDT) labs at UW-Milwaukee, Nambisan leads various projects leveraging data from myHESTIA and social media platforms. In 2024, she and Lance Weinhardt, associate dean for research, received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the relationship between social media use and suicide rates among at-risk youth, particularly focusing on LGBTQ+ individuals.
Nambisan’s research addresses the complexities surrounding mental health, especially regarding suicide. “It’s a very difficult research topic to study due to the complexities of suicide and a lack of clarity in the causes,” she noted. Participants in the study are encouraged to document their online experiences and emotional responses, providing valuable insights into the effects of social media on mental health.
Despite the sensitive nature of the subject, Nambisan remains hopeful that her work can contribute to meaningful change. She frequently shares her findings with schools and parent groups, aiming to raise awareness about the challenges faced by vulnerable youth.
Through her innovative approaches to health tracking and mental health research, Priya Nambisan exemplifies the potential of technology to enhance individual well-being and improve healthcare delivery for aging populations. Her commitment to understanding and addressing health issues continues to inspire both her students and the broader community.
