Mayo Clinic Names First Chief Digital Officer

Mayo Clinic has named its first chief digital officer as it prepares for transformative changes in the digital space.

Rita Khan, who most recently was senior vice president of consumer digital at UnitedHealthcare, has been named chief digital officer for Mayo Clinic. Khan will be responsible for digital strategy, establishing the Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health, and implementing a comprehensive business plan and digital standards that align with Mayo Clinic's culture and values.

"Mayo Clinic is committed to leading the digital transformation of health care by creating world-class platforms that align with our patients-first culture and values," Gianrico Farrugia, MD, Mayo Clinic's president and CEO, said in a company press release. “We must continually innovate and reimagine the delivery of health care, and we are delighted that Ms. Khan, with her diverse experience in consumer-focused digital innovation, will lead this effort.”

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At UnitedHealthcare, Khan directed enterprise-level digital strategy. She led a team responsible for designing and building digital solutions for providers, employers and members across UnitedHealthcare's commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid businesses.

With more than 20 years of experience in retail and ecommerce, Khan previously was global vice president of Product at Digital River Inc., a provider of ecommerce, payments and marketing services. She also was director of bestbuy.com and director of Best Buy's direct to business channel. She began her career at Target Corp. 

"I'm excited to align my deep background in retail, and most recently health care, to focus on consumer experience, product design and digital with an organization whose values I share - grounded in always putting the consumer first," Khan said in the press release. "Mayo Clinic was founded on the belief that the needs of the patient comes first. I look forward to helping advance that commitment as we expand our digital solutions for the people we serve."

Khan has a bachelor's degree from Tufts University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.