Adhera Health at ENDO 2025: Championing Family-Centered Innovation in Pediatric Chronic Care

Last week at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco, Adhera Health took the stage with three research presentations focused on family-centered approaches to pediatric chronic condition care. The team presented posters on Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), and Pediatric Obesity - and delivered a Rapid Fire presentation during the Pediatric Growth Hormone session on Day 1.

Mental & Emotional Health in Growth Hormone Disorders

Ricardo C. Berrios, Adhera Health’s CEO and Luis Fernandez Luque, PhD, Adhera Health’s Chief Scientific Officer, presenting at ENDO 2025

Our study on GHD, presented in both poster and rapid fire formats, emphasized the interconnected emotional and physical challenges experienced by children and their caregivers. It highlighted how caregiver mental health is strongly associated with a child’s coping and treatment outcomes. These findings reinforce the need for holistic, family-centered interventions that address the full lived experience of GHD - not just the medical aspects. This study was conducted in partnership with the University of Miguel Servet’s Pediatric Endocrinology Department (led by Dr. Antonio de Arriba) and supported by Merck GmbH.

From over 2,700 abstracts presented at ENDO 2025, only 24 were selected for official Endocrine Society press releases - and our study was one of them. You can read the release here.

Our findings didn’t just make waves at ENDO — they also sparked coverage in leading science and health media outlets like News-Medical and Medical Xpress, helping to bring the conversation around family-centered pediatric care to a broader global audience.

Luis Fernandez Luque, PhD, Adhera Health’s Chief Scientific Officer, presenting at ENDO 2025

Type 1 Diabetes and Severe Glycemic Events

Our second presentation, titled "Associations Between Severe Events of Hypo- and Hyperglycemia and Family Well-being", explored how fluctuations in blood sugar levels - particularly at night - affect not just children with T1D, but also their caregivers’ emotional state and children’s academic performance. Caregiver education emerged as a key protective factor, reinforcing the value of empowering families with knowledge and emotional guidance. This study was conducted in partnership with the University of Miguel Servet’s Pediatric Endocrinology Department (led by Dr. Antonio de Arriba) and supported by Novo Nordisk.

Obesity in Underserved Families

Our third poster focused on the lived experiences of Latino families managing childhood obesity. Through 11 participatory workshops involving over 50 families, the study uncovered key challenges: stigma, cultural food practices, limited access to resources, and mental health gaps. Caregivers stressed the need for culturally competent, emotionally supportive tools - pointing to digital companions as a promising solution to close the care gap. This work was supported by an SBIR grant from the NIH in partnership with Jennifer Raymond, MD, MCR an Associate Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and her research team.

Shannon McGinley, Adhera Health’s Director of Marketing and one of the researchers on the NIH-funded study

Collaborator Connections at ENDO

Beyond the research presentations, ENDO 2025 was an opportunity to deepen our partnerships. We met with critical Key Opinion Leaders including Dr. Brad Miller (Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota) and Dr. William Martinez ((Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco) to discuss future directions for research in growth disorders and mental health in pediatric obesity. We also connected with Dr. Tina Hu, Clinical Director of Diabetes Transition of Care at UCSF, to explore the evolving needs of adolescents with diabetes as they age into adult care.

Ricardo C. Berrios, Luis Fernandez Luque and Dr. William Martinez, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UCSF, discussing future partnerships

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to be advancing the science behind family-centered care in pediatrics. Whether it’s Growth Hormone Deficiency, Type 1 Diabetes, or Obesity, our work highlights the power of pairing digital innovation with human understanding - and bringing the whole family into the center of chronic care management.

View the Posters:

ENDO2025 - Pediatric GHD

ENDO2025 - Pediatric T1D

ENDO2025 - Pediatric Obesity

Adhera Health Research Spotlighted at ENDO 2025: Advancing AI-Driven Family-Centered Pediatric Care

We’re thrilled to share that three of Adhera Health’s research studies have been accepted for presentation at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society and one of the world’s leading forums for endocrine innovation. Taking place this July in San Francisco, the event will spotlight how our work is reshaping pediatric chronic care through clinically grounded, AI-powered solutions that support not just the child - but the entire family.

Groundbreaking Research, Family-First Impact

At Adhera Health, our mission is rooted in one fundamental belief: pediatric care must be family-centered to be truly effective. The studies selected for ENDO 2025 dive into the emotional, behavioral, and systemic realities of families navigating three complex conditions:

• Growth Hormone Deficiency: A study revealing the deep interdependence between child and caregiver well-being.

• Type 1 Diabetes (T1D): Research examining how AI can help identify patterns in hypo- and hyperglycemic events to better support families.

• Childhood Obesity in Underserved Populations: A participatory initiative engaging Latino families to uncover cultural and systemic barriers, shaping more inclusive digital support tools.

“These insights are more than scientific findings - they’re the foundation of how we build technology that actually works for families,” said Ricardo C. Berrios, Co-Founder & CEO of Adhera Health. “We’re honored to share this work with the broader endocrine community at ENDO 2025.”

Powering the Future with Adhera AI Health Agents

These studies directly inform the development of the Adhera® AI Health Platform and our proprietary Adhera Health Agents - goal-oriented, autonomous AI companions built on Small Language Models (SLMs) and fueled by biopsychosocial family data. These agents are designed to support the entire care journey, offering timely, empathetic, and personalized guidance to families navigating chronic conditions.

“Our collaboration with Adhera Health shows how digital innovation must be both scientifically sound and human-centered,” said Dr. Antonio de Arriba Muñoz, Pediatric Endocrinologist at Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet.

Scaling Empathy and Science

As we scale nationally, these findings reinforce our belief that the next generation of healthcare tools must go beyond automation. They must understand, support, and connect—in ways that are equitable, emotionally intelligent, and clinically aligned.

“This is AI that doesn’t just think—it understands,” Berrios added. “It’s not just advanced, it’s deeply empathetic.”

To learn more about our work at Adhera Health and how we’re transforming pediatric chronic care, get in touch with us.

This blog article is based on the press release - https://www.einpresswire.com/article/819470694/adhera-health-strengthens-ai-driven-pediatric-platform-with-research-featured-at-endo-2025

Meet Connie Dovel: A Health & Wellness Coach Who Gets It

At Adhera Health, we believe that caring for a child with Type 1 diabetes takes more than clinical appointments - it takes everyday courage, emotional support, and a sense of being truly understood. That’s exactly what families find in Connie Dovel, one of the compassionate Health and Wellness Coaches behind the Adhera Caring Digital Program.

Connie’s role goes far beyond advice - it’s about connection, empathy, and empowerment. Here’s a closer look at what fuels her work and how she supports families navigating pediatric Type 1 diabetes.

A Lifelong Passion for Health - and a Personal Connection to T1D

Connie’s career in health and wellness spans personal training, nutrition counseling, and health promotion. With a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science, a Master’s in Health Promotion Management, and certifications in both personal training and health coaching, she brings deep knowledge to every coaching session.

But what makes her truly unique is that she’s walked this road herself:

“My oldest child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11. I can empathize with and guide families because I’ve faced the same challenges they’re facing every single day.”

Coaching That’s Personal, Not One-Size-Fits-All

Through the Adhera app, Connie supports families with:

• One-on-one chat support

• Scheduled video sessions

Each conversation is tailored to a family’s unique concerns. Whether it’s navigating sports safely, managing picky eating, or adjusting insulin around busy schedules, Connie adapts to meet them where they are.

“Every interaction is different. There’s no script. Just a real conversation based on what that family needs right now.”

A Moment That Meant Everything

Connie recalls supporting a teen girl with T1D who was completely burned out and disengaged from her care.

“She had given up. Her parents were overwhelmed. We took small steps, little by little. Months later, she messaged me:
‘Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.’
That’s why I do this.”

Tools That Help Families Feel in Control

Connie often begins with goal setting - short-term, long-term, and everything in between. From mindfulness exercises to daily check-ins, each strategy is customized. And thanks to the app’s chat function, support fits into real life, not just a calendar.

“Families are busy. The digital connection means we don’t need to wait for a scheduled session. We can talk when it matters most.”

Inclusive, Accessible Support for Every Family

Connie works with families from all backgrounds. Her approach is grounded in respect, curiosity, and flexibility, with sensitivity to cultural, social, and emotional differences.

“It’s not just about what to eat or how to dose. It’s about listening - really listening - and working together to find what fits.”

Looking Ahead with Adhera Health

As someone who once wished for this kind of support herself, Connie is energized by where Adhera is headed:

“This concept is revolutionary. I wish something like this existed when my child was diagnosed. I’m honored to be part of it.”

Her advice to every caregiver?

“Take it one day at a time. Don’t be afraid to accept help. And remember—every small win matters.”

Learn More About the Adhera Caring Digital Program

Discover how Adhera Health supports families managing pediatric chronic conditions with empathy, evidence, and everyday tools that work.

What AMIA 2025 Taught Adhera Health About Fair, Responsible AI in Healthcare

Insights from the AMIA Informatics Summit that are helping guide our approach to using AI and digital tools to better support families managing chronic health conditions.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend and present at the AMIA Informatics Summit 2025, one of the most influential conferences in health informatics. The event brought together leading researchers, clinicians, and industry innovators to explore the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and digital health solutions.

Attending this summit was essential for Adhera Health as we continue advancing our mission in digital health innovation. Our goal is to develop Precision Digital Companions that leverage AI, machine learning, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) to improve health outcomes—especially for families managing pediatric chronic conditions, a group often overlooked in digital health innovation. The discussions at AMIA reinforced the importance of fairness in AI, ethical deployment of machine learning models, and the critical role of SDoH in shaping equitable healthcare solutions.

Key Takeaways from the Summit

1. Fairness in AI: Addressing Bias in Machine Learning for Chronic Disease Care

One of the most pressing challenges in AI-driven healthcare is the issue of bias in machine learning models. During my presentation, I highlighted how current AI models often favor younger, male patients, leading to disparities in chronic disease care. These biases, embedded in training data, can result in less accurate predictions for older adults, women, and underrepresented populations—widening healthcare inequalities.

The session sparked thought-provoking discussions with attendees on ways to mitigate these biases, including:

1.         Rebalancing training datasets to ensure diverse representation.

2.         Developing fairness-aware algorithms that actively correct disparities.

3.         Integrating SDoH data to capture a more holistic view of patient health.

We also discussed how fairness in AI extends beyond individual patients to their families—particularly in pediatrics, where caregivers play a central role in daily disease management. Supporting equitable outcomes means considering not just clinical risk factors, but also the emotional, logistical, and behavioral burden placed on families.

2. Engaging with Leading Experts in Biomedical Informatics

One of the most valuable aspects of AMIA is the opportunity to connect with top researchers and thought leaders. I had insightful conversations with experts from UCSF, Stanford, NYU Langone, and Mayo Clinic on cutting-edge developments in AI and health informatics, particularly in:

1.         The potential and risks of Large Language Models (LLMs) in healthcare. While LLMs hold promise for patient communication and clinical decision support, concerns around hallucinations and bias remain critical.

2.         Ethical considerations in AI deployment. How can hospitals ensure that AI-driven decisions align with patient-centric care?

3.         Advancing NLP and machine learning in EHRs. How can we leverage AI to extract meaningful insights from electronic health records while maintaining privacy and fairness?

These discussions reinforced the importance of responsible AI development and the need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure these technologies truly benefit patients.

3. Spotlight on SDoH and AI Integration

A key theme throughout the summit was the integration of SDoH in AI models. In a discussion with a researcher from a leading children's hospital, we explored the role of SDoH data in family-centered precision digital health solutions for pediatric chronic conditions—a critical yet often overlooked aspect of AI in healthcare. These conversations reinforced the importance of designing tools that recognize caregivers as active participants in care and address the real-world challenges families face, such as housing instability, food insecurity, and access to transportation.

By incorporating factors like socioeconomic status, access to care, and environmental conditions, AI-driven tools can offer more personalized and equitable healthcare recommendations. This aligns directly with Adhera Health’s mission to create digital companion solutions that account for real-world patient contexts beyond clinical data alone.

Looking Ahead: Next Steps for Adhera Health

Insights from AMIA will directly inform the evolution of Adhera Health’s Precision Digital Companion programs. Specifically, we are focused on:

1.         Enhancing AI fairness in our predictive models to reduce bias in chronic disease care.

2.         Expanding partnerships with healthcare institutions and researchers to drive responsible AI innovation.

3.         Continuing to refine our support for family dyads—both the child and caregiver—to ensure our digital companions foster confidence, resilience, and health literacy at home.

4.         Further integrating SDoH data to improve personalization and patient engagement in digital health solutions.

We are excited about upcoming opportunities to collaborate with leaders in AI fairness, biomedical informatics, and digital health to ensure these innovations lead to more just and effective healthcare solutions.

Conclusion

Attending AMIA Informatics Summit 2025 was a powerful reminder of the potential—and responsibility—of AI in healthcare. From addressing bias in machine learning to leveraging SDoH for more equitable family-centered care, the discussions and collaborations at this event will shape the next phase of digital health innovation.

At Adhera Health, we are committed to leading this change. If you're interested in collaborating on AI fairness, SDoH integration, or digital health solutions, let’s connect!

Stay tuned for an upcoming research publication where we dive deeper into these topics. In the meantime, follow Adhera Health for more updates on our work in responsible AI and precision digital health.