From Lived Experience to Lasting Impact: Psalms Frye on Joining a CE Studio on AI in Healthcare

In a world where technology is rapidly changing the way people access and engage with healthcare, patient voice remains critical in the development of new tools and interventions. That belief is what motivated Rochester resident, birth doula, and mother of six, Psalms Frye, to participate in a recent Community Engagement (CE) Studio focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

CE Studios provides a framework for researchers to work directly with community members, patients, caregivers, and other individuals to get meaningful insight into the planning, design, implementation, translation, or dissemination of the research.

Psalms recognizes that AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life and will play an increasingly significant role in how patients receive care. “I think that is the trajectory our society is headed toward in most fields of operation,” she shared. “I want to help make its usage impactful for all people’s needs.”

For her, the experience of speaking directly with researchers developing AI tools felt meaningful and energizing. “It was rewarding to share my lived experience with researchers who are working on finding ways to better serve our community by utilizing advanced technology,” Psalms said.

She believes strongly that community voices must be at the table when health technologies are being built. “We are the people receiving the care,” she emphasized. “We know what our needs are. Our input should help researchers and engineers figure out how those needs can be met.”

Her hope is that researchers leave CE Studios with a deeper understanding of the diverse barriers individuals face in healthcare—barriers shaped by culture, geography, identity, or life circumstances. Only by listening, she says, can technology be designed to work for everyone.

When asked what advice she’d give to someone invited to a future CE Studio, Psalms didn’t hesitate: “Be yourself and speak your truth. Being honest is the only way researchers can make changes to healthcare that better suit our needs.”

Psalms values the CE Studio process so much that she’s eager to stay involved: “I really enjoy participating. I would love more opportunities in the future.”

By sharing lived experiences, individuals like Psalms help ensure that the future of healthcare technology is built with real people in mind.

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At Mayo Clinic, better research begins with you. When your voice and lived experience are part of the research process, studies become more powerful, more meaningful, and more connected to real-life needs. Click here to discover opportunities to shape the future of health research.