Former surgeon general joins Eko Health as adviser

A healthcare leader with a well-known voice is joining Eko Health.

Jerome Adams, MD, the former U.S. Surgeon General, has agreed to join Eko Health and will serve as a medical adviser to the health tech firm.

Jerome Adams, MD, the former U.S. Surgeon General, has agreed to join Eko Health as a medical adviser. The company made the announcement Thursday.

Eko Health manufactures digital stethoscopes to health systems and physician practices. The modern stethoscopes are paired with the company’s AI platform, and the solutions are designed to help providers detect cardiac and pulmonary conditions.

Adams served as the nation’s 20th surgeon general. President Donald Trump nominated him in his first term, and he served in the administration during the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He has maintained a high level of visibility and regularly makes national media appearances to discuss healthcare issues.

In an email, Adams said that he sees potential for Eko to help providers and help patients avoid more serious problems.

“Health systems are under enormous pressure to improve outcomes while reducing costs," Adams said in the email. "What excites me about Eko is that it delivers both, bringing AI-powered cardiac detection directly to the point of care. By empowering clinicians with accurate, affordable tools, we can catch disease earlier, prevent costly complications, and ultimately transform how cardiovascular care is delivered at scale.”

A board-certified anesthesiologist, Adams serves as the executive director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning at Purdue University. He has held that post since October 2021. He previously served as Indiana’s state health commissioner.

Connor Landgraf, CEO and co-founder of Eko Health, hailed Adams’ medical credentials, public health experience and his work in government.

“He knows how to turn medical innovation into real-world impact, and his perspective on expanding access, efficiency, and quality of care will be invaluable as we build on one of the largest deployments of AI-enabled medical devices in the world to reach even more clinicians and patients,” Landgraf said in a statement.

Based in Emeryville, California, Eko announced earlier this month that the company has expanded its clinical advisory board. Eko says it has sold over 650,000 devices to providers.

Eko has also recently partnered with HeartSense and other organizations to expand access to cardiovascular screenings in underserved communities.

The company says Adams will help advance the company’s mission of putting high-tech tools in the hands of providers and hopefully leading to earlier interventions.

Adams has also been an ardent defender of the work to develop COVID-19 vaccines, and he criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the cancellation of nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine development projects.

“The data is clear: mRNA vaccines have a strong safety record. We shouldn't ignore concerns, yet risks of COVID far outweigh rare side effects,” Adams wrote in a series of posts on X.

In an Aug. 10 interview on CBS’ Face The Nation, Adams also praised the swift development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Operation Warp Speed was, whether you're Republican or Democrat, considered one of the most incredible things ever done in this country,” Adams said.