Apple has made another high-profile hire for its efforts to improve and expand HealthKit, Fast Company reports. Rajiv Kumar, who specializes in treating children with diabetes, drew attention in 2015 when he created a HealthKit-enabled diabetes monitoring system for kids.
His former employer, the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, confirmed Kumar will maintain a part-time appointment at the hospital, but CEO Christopher Dawes said, “We can’t compete with companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook when they really want one of our own.”
Apple refused to comment on the story, but Kumar joins a growing team of doctors and biotech researchers recruited by Apple to boost its medical applications. Last month Apple hired former Nest executive Yoky Matsuoka, who won a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant for using technology to help disabled people and stroke victims regain the use of their limbs.
And just two weeks ago Tim Cook outlined an ambitious new plan to make Apple Watch able to monitor many more of the body’s basic functions and report issues that may require a doctor visit.
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