The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – owner and producer of CES®, the global stage for innovation – today announced Rene Quashie as the association’s first-ever vice president of policy and regulatory affairs of digital health. Quashie will provide guidance on key technical and regulatory issues relating to consumer digital health and wellness technology products, services, software and apps.

     “We’re thrilled Rene is joining CTA, especially at such a critical time for digital health technology policy,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “Innovations in health tech help consumers lead healthier lives, care for their loved ones and better connect with their doctors. Rene’s expertise will build on our already successful work in this sector and help CTA be an even stronger advocate for digital health innovators.” 

     Quashie will also work on behalf of CTA’s Health and Fitness Technology Division, which supports the consumer health technology industry through education, research, standards work, policy initiatives and more. The division’s industry-consensus accomplishments include the creation of CTA’s Guiding Principles on the Privacy and Security of Personal Wellness Data, addressing how companies should treat consumers' personal wellness data. CTA works closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the National Coordinator and other related government agencies.

     Quashie comes to CTA from the law firm of Cozen O’Connor, where he focused on telehealth and mobile health regulatory issues. His clients included startups, health technology companies, coalitions and health care trade associations. Quashie is a frequent writer and speaker on health technology issues and co-authored a survey of telemental health laws analyzing states’ policies. Rene received his B.S. from Arizona State University and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

     Digital health is also a rapidly expanding area of CES. CES 2018 offered the inaugural Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare conference, which addressed topics such as digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence in healthcare, and featured insights from top physicians, health insurers, hospital executives and more.