BOSTON, Mass. — Linus Health, an AI-driven brain health company focused on early detection of cognitive impairment and personalized intervention, has appointed Julie Wood, MD, MPH, FAAFP, as senior medical director, clinician engagement.
Wood brings more than two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, public health, and primary care leadership, along with deep expertise in clinician education, quality improvement, and large-scale practice transformation. A practicing family physician for nearly 20 years, she has held leadership roles across research, science, clinical strategy, and population health.
Most recently, Wood served as senior vice president for science and clinical strategy at the American Academy of Family Physicians, where she oversaw scientific research, public health initiatives, interprofessional collaboration, and the development of clinical and policy resources for family physicians nationwide. Her career has included guiding primary care teams through the adoption of new clinical models, implementing evidence-based resources, and improving workflows to support patient-centered care.
In her new role at Linus Health, Wood will lead clinician engagement strategies as health systems increasingly adopt digital cognitive assessments and AI-enabled tools to support earlier detection of cognitive impairment and more informed care pathways. She will work closely with clinical leaders across the U.S. to support implementation, training, and continuous quality improvement.
“Primary care teams support individuals and families across every stage of life, and they need practical tools that fit clinical workflows and reflect real-world care priorities,” Wood said. “My new role at Linus Health provides a meaningful opportunity to partner with clinicians to help them incorporate AI-enabled cognitive assessments into their workflows to support proactive brain health. As a family physician myself, I look forward to spreading the word about how Linus Health tools elevate the quality of everyday decision making, strengthen confidence in identifying cognitive change, and support earlier and more effective intervention for patients who may be at risk for decline.”
Wood joins the company amid growing demand for efficient, scalable approaches to cognitive assessment as new disease-modifying treatments enter the Alzheimer’s care landscape. Health systems are seeking solutions that can capture subtle cognitive and functional changes, streamline evaluation in primary care settings, and reduce diagnostic delays that have historically extended for months or years.
Linus Health said its platform supports this shift by enabling rapid, structured assessments that strengthen care teams’ ability to identify impairment earlier and expand capacity across diverse clinical settings, including rural and high-volume practices. The company said these capabilities help create a clearer pathway from initial concern to timely treatment planning while supporting more consistent and equitable access to brain health evaluation.
“We welcome Julie Wood at a moment when providers across the country are working to integrate new approaches that support earlier identification of cognitive change and more efficient diagnostic pathways,” said David Bates, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Linus Health. “Her extensive experience in primary care, public health, and clinician engagement will be an asset as we accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled cognitive assessments that support earlier detection, improve care pathways, and enhance clinical readiness for new treatment options.”
Wood is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the University of West Florida. She has been nationally recognized for her contributions to family medicine, public health, and clinical education, with a longstanding commitment to advancing care quality and health equity. (Source: IANS)
