Aaron Horowitz is a maker; from sculptures to business, he is fascinated with the process of taking an idea from concept to reality. His experience growing up with human growth hormone deficiency inspired a desire to bring empathy, design, and a patient-centered mindset to healthcare.

He is the co-founder and CEO of Sproutel - equal parts R&D lab, design studio, and venture studio - focused on bringing comfort and joy to healthcare. Sproutel is best known for their work creating Jerry the Bear, a best friend for children with type 1 diabetes, and My Special Aflac Duck, a robotic companion for children with cancer. The White House and Barack Obama recognized Sproutel as one of 32 companies representing diversity in tech in 2015, and Horowitz as one of 50 honored makers in 2014.

Horowitz holds a degree in Mechatronics and User Interaction Design from Northwestern University, a major he created to pursue a passion for understanding how people play with robots! Through his work, Horowitz is on a mission to design technology with purpose. When unplugged Horowitz is likely either carving stone or surfing.

Patient safety, Patient Boundary Issues, Healthcare Quality & Safety, Health, Healthcare, Healthcare Policy, Business of Healthcare, Innovation, Robotics, Children with Disabilities, Disability, TED, Diabetes, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Futurism, Technology Futurism