What is the West Wireless Health Institute?

The West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit medical research organization whose mission is to lower health care costs through technology and innovation. WWHI is the only research organization in the world supporting the exploration and application of technologies such as wireless medical devices to advance infrastructure independent health care - which translates to the right care, at the right time, wherever a patient may be.

Who established and leads the Institute?

WWHI was founded and funded by the Gary and Mary West Foundation in March 2009. Gary West is Chairman of the Board. WWHI’s leadership includes Dr. Joseph M. Smith, Chief Medical and Science Officer; and, Dr. Mohit Kaushal, EVP of Business Development and Chief Strategy Officer. More than half of WWHI’s 60 staff members are engineers, and the organization expects to grow its team to 80 by year-end.

To date, Gary and Mary West have committed more than $100 million to WWHI, and they are the sole source of funding for the organization. As a matter of policy, WWHI does not accept funding from any corporate or government sources.

What is the focus of the Institute's medical research?

All medical research at WWHI is patient-centered and is guided by needs identified by clinicians, hospitals, and/or health care systems. WWHI's multidisciplinary team of engineers and clinicians conduct R&D focused on low-cost solutions that meet these needs, including reducing hospital readmissions. WWHI is developing end-to-end wireless health solutions to dramatically lower health care costs and enable infrastructure independent health care.

In November 2010, WWHI announced the development of its first engineered prototype, Sense4Baby™, a non-invasive wireless device for remote fetal and maternal monitoring. Sense4Baby™is currently an engineered prototype and is not available for commercial or professional use.

What is the Institute doing to advance the field of wireless health?

WWHI operates with three core functions:

Does the Institute accept proposals or make grants?

No. WWHI is not a funding or grant-making organization. In addition, WWHI does not sponsor external events and does not join any external trade or membership associations or organizations.

Where is the Institute located?

WWHI is headquartered in San Diego, California, the global center for health care innovation. The facility features five engineering and clinical labs; a state-of-the-art classroom for workshops and seminars; and an interactive area showcasing wireless health solutions developed internally and around the world.

How do I find out about employment opportunities at the Institute?

WWHI is bringing together the best minds in health care, technology and science from around the world.  To learn more about opportunities at the Institute, view job postings on the homepage or visit the Careers section of the Web site.