Explore. Learn. Transform.

Doaa Alrefaei, Ph.D., is a faculty member at the School of Economics and Administration at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. She is also a research associate at the User Experience and Decision Making (UXDM) Lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Her research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction, eye tracking, and Neuro Information Systems (NeuroIS), with a strong focus on enhancing user experience design through AI-driven, neuroscientific approaches. Dr. Alrefaei’s work explores the application of eye-tracking and NeuroIS in healthcare settings, aiming to improve user interactions and support better outcomes in healthcare systems.

Navneet Magon Anand is a Human-Centered Design Strategist, artist, author, and educator, known for pioneering Quantum Design—a multidisciplinary approach that integrates design, neuroscience, quantum theory, and aesthetics to elevate human potential. As the founder of Design Veritas, Navneet collaborates with visionary leaders and organizations to create environments and experiences that foster wellbeing, creativity, and authentic connection. Her work bridges neuroaesthetics, spatial intelligence, and systems thinking, guiding individuals and organizations toward conscious transformation and meaningful impact.

Tammy Coutts, FACHDM is a Principal Designer at MEDITECH with over 32 years of experience driving user-centered innovation in healthcare technology. She leads cross-functional teams through every phase of discovery, design, and development—ensuring user needs and business goals stay closely aligned. Tammy is a champion of strategic UX and inclusive design, applying advanced methodologies, synthesizing in-depth user research, and promoting accessibility as a core design principle. Throughout her 15+ years as Lead Software Designer for UX/Usability, she has mentored teams, developed training programs, and played a key role in building a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. She is a fellow for the American College of Health Data Management.

Soussan Djamasbi, Ph.D., is a Professor of Information Systems and the founder and director of both the User Experience and Decision Making (UXDM) Lab and the Neuro Information Systems (NeuroIS) research program at WPI. Her research leverages eye-tracking technology to explore human information processing at a micro-cognitive level, with the goal of developing competitive, user-centered solutions. Dr. Djamasbi is also pioneering the use of eye movement data as a biomarker of experience, applying AI to design smart systems capable of real-time personalization based on users’ cognitive states and level of engagement with the system. Her most recent work focuses on developing the next generation of smart clinical decision support systems, using eye movements to detect health symptoms such as chronic pain and anxiety—bridging the gap between technology and human well-being.

Lloyd Fisher, MD is a general pediatrician at Reliant Medical Group where he has been in practice since 2006 and the Chief Medical Information Officer for Optum Massachusetts.  During his time at Reliant he has worked to improve efficiency through innovative uses of the Electronic Health Record (EHR).  He was the founding director for the Provider EHR Optimization team and has more than 19 years of experience as a clinical informatics presenting at numerous national meetings. Outside of his roles within Optum he serves as the Chief of Community Pediatrics for the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Medical Center where he acts as the liaison between the academic medical center and the 150+ community-based pediatricians in the region.  He is a past President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization representing over 1700 pediatricians across the state and currently the Medical Director for the Chapter’s Immunization Initiative.  He is also a Delegate to the House of Delegates of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. Fisher earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of Vermont and his medical degree from The University of Massachusetts Medical School where he also completed a residency in pediatrics.  Dr. Fisher is board certified in both pediatrics and clinical informatics. He and his wife reside in Central Massachusetts with their three school-aged children.  When he is not working, he can usually be found watching his children acting, singing, or dancing on stage or competing in a Taekwondo tournament.

Brian McLaughlin is a passionate and proven visionary in the areas of innovation, user experience, usability, design, standards compliant UI construction techniques, and mobile devices. As a former Chief Experience and Design Officer, Brian has been a member of the executive management teams as well as having spent countless hours as an individual contributor in his early years as a designer, illustrator, and frontend developer. Over the span of his 40 year career, he has led creative design teams, user experience teams, product innovation teams, as well as technology and development teams to deliver best-in-class customer experiences across several different markets.

Susan Richardson is a Lead Software Designer at MEDITECH with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare technology industry. Throughout her career, she has held key roles in Customer Service, Project Management, and Development, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the user experience and product lifecycle. Known for her ability to build strong, lasting relationships with customers, Susan is deeply committed to understanding user needs through direct engagement, research analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. Her career reflects a continuous drive for innovation, improvement, and the delivery of high-quality, user-focused healthcare solutions.

Doug Roerden is an impactful leader, serving people through purposeful, human-centric experiences. Collaborating with business, technology, and other partners, Doug leads UX for banking, financial services, and insurance. An international speaker, facilitator, and advisor on several boards, Doug’s thought leadership and multi-decade practice bridges personal computing through today’s digital worlds for Fortune and Global 500 companies. Doug holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition & Arranging from Berklee College of Music and is on a mission to make things more intuitive for those who are ready, willing, and able.

John Wyatt is a Senior Program Manager of Research Operations at Amazon. With over a decade in the UX/UXR realm, John has empowered both Fortune 100s and nimble startups to launch and scale UXR programs, converting insights into actionable outcomes. John believes in UXR’s potential to not just spearhead product innovation but to also instill a customer-centric ethos. A leading member of UXSYM’s organizing committee since its inception, he remains captivated by the partnership and innovation from academic-industry collaborations.

Danae Zoellin is a seasoned design leader with over 10 years at Amazon, where she has spent the last 3 years as the Senior Manager of Design for Amazon Advertising. In this role, she leads cross-functional design teams to drive innovation and deliver customer-centric solutions at scale. Her work focuses on aligning design strategy with business goals and building scalable systems that enhance user experience across Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar advertising business. Prior to this, Danae served as a Principal Program Manager, helping shape Amazon’s global advertising strategy within the design organization. Her dual expertise in design leadership and program strategy gives her a unique ability to connect big-picture vision with operational execution. Danae brings a compelling perspective to the evolving conversation around AI and UX, demonstrating how design-led innovation can drive measurable and meaningful business outcomes.