Ellyn built AskEllyn two years after her own diagnosis. It was one of the first AI companions created for a single disease journey, offering emotional support for the moments after the appointment ends: in the car, at 2 a.m., or when explaining a diagnosis to your kids.
Ellyn and Grace dig into:
• Why conversational AI, not another portal or app, was the right fit for emotional support
• How co-designing with patients, not just for them, shaped the product
• Why AskEllyn clearly says she's not a clinician, and how the team keeps it that way
• How AskEllyn reaches people in 50+ languages across 100+ countries, including through City Cancer Challenge
• Ellyn's national study with Brock University and the Canadian Cancer Society, which holds AI emotional support to a clinical evidence standard
Plus, Ellyn opens up about being both the founder and the persona users are talking to, shares her advice for women in healthcare and health IT, and tells us about her tea and the story behind her mug!
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