Apple is hiring physicians, and now has around 40 to 50 on staff, including orthopedic surgeon Sharat Kusuma, MD, according to a CNBC report.
The physicians on staff are scattered across various projects and departments; some support the creation of integrated health technologies for products such as the Apple Watch and iPhones. Many of the physicians maintain an active practice and leadership roles within their organizations.
Dr. Kusuma was hired to manage Apple's relationship with Zimmer Biomet, according to the report. The two companies launched their collaboration in October to examine and improve the joint replacement patient experience. The partners launched the mymobility app for Apple Watch, and the clinical study will examine its impact on patient outcomes and costs.
The study could include as many as 10,000 participants, and several academic medical centers, hospitals and orthopedic practices and ASCs are participating in the study.
According to an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons profile, Dr. Kusuma is an orthopedic surgeon with interest in adult reconstruction and joint replacement. He also served as an AAOS Washington Health Policy Fellow in 2003-04 and attended several Orthopaedic Device Forum meetings.
He left full time orthopedic practice in 2014 and was a healthcare expert at McKinsey & Company before joining Apple in 2017, according to his Vanderbilt Alumni profile.