Duke Health and SAS Formalize Strategic Analytics and AI Collaboration 

Duke Health has formalized a two-year collaboration with SAS, a global leader in data and AI, headquartered in Cary, N.C.

The strategic effort builds on the two organization’s previously announced collaboration to leverage cutting-edge technology to transform health care operations and patient care through advanced operational analytics, AI, and machine learning.

Building on Duke Health's successful partnerships with industry leaders such as Microsoft and nference, the collaboration with SAS is set to expand Duke Health’s capabilities in operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making. The initiative aims to create innovative AI-powered tools that will drive health care delivery process improvements, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to patients.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with SAS, our neighbor in the Research Triangle,” said Jeffrey Ferranti, M.D., senior vice president and chief digital officer at Duke Health. “This relationship marks a significant milestone in enhancing our analytics capabilities by leveraging AI in a responsible and ethical manner. Together, we will unlock new opportunities to transform health care.”

The collaboration also grants Duke Health access to state-of-the-art analytics through the SAS^® Viya^® data and AI platform and health applications, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making. Together, the organizations will spearhead the development and commercialization of AI-powered digital twinning solutions, enabling real-time process monitoring and optimization. Additionally, they will combine their expertise to support responsible AI initiatives with the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) and the Trustworthy and Responsible AI Network (TRAIN).

"We are delighted to see the growth of our collaborations with SAS in the domain of artificial intelligence,” said Michael Pencina, M.D., chief data scientist at Duke Health. “SAS has been a great partner since the foundation of CHAI and this collaboration opens the next chapter by enabling us to leverage the Viya platform to create new tools that will benefit Duke and other TRAIN members by making health AI more trustworthy.”

“One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership is that unlocks a set of tools and capabilities that will allow us to better understand our own approaches to patient care and resource management,” said Michael Zavlanos, PhD, Duke engineering professor and director in healthcare system optimization for Duke AI Health. “By bringing the sophisticated analytics of the SAS Viya platform to bear on different aspects of health system performance, we will be able to design more efficient and effective approaches to care – something that will benefit both our patients and our health care providers.”

“Applying AI powered tools like digital twins in the healthcare system offers health researchers and hospital leaders a unique opportunity to simulate changes to their operating systems and protocols to better understand the potential impact for patients before implementing change,” said Gail Stephens, vice president of healthcare and life sciences at SAS. “Ultimately this can improve care and drive better patient outcomes.”