Steven Hester, a proud graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has been named the 2025 School of Medicine Alumni Fellow by the University of Louisville Wilson Wyatt Alumni Awards. His career journey, from a student fascinated by computers to a physician-executive driving innovation at Norton Healthcare, perfectly illustrates his pioneering efforts in using technology and medicine to transform patient care.

Early in his career, Hester became Norton Healthcare’s Chief Medical Information Officer, stepping into this role at a time when technology was only beginning to intersect with health care. One of his first assignments was the system-wide implementation of the electronic medical record (EMR) and the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). While now commonplace, these digital tools were highly contested in the early stages of the process. Thanks to his persistence, physicians today can securely transmit and view X-ray films in real time with colleagues directly from their cell phones, making collaboration, second opinions and patient communication faster and more effective.

Since then, technology’s influence on medicine has only accelerated. EMR systems continue to evolve, and we are even starting to see artificial intelligence that can transcribe and document a visit, effectively limiting the physician’s reliance on a keyboard and allowing the physician to focus their attention on the patient. Advances in treatment and care delivery have also been remarkable: joint replacement patients now return home within hours of the procedure, many diseases have has shifted from a hospital-based  to one managed largely in the community and new medications are transforming how physicians treat chronic illness.

“From surgeries to research, patient education and hospital care, information technology has significantly impacted all areas of patient care,” shared Hester. “We are in a fascinating time for medicine, and significant change is always on the horizon.”

Looking ahead, Hester sees AI as a powerful tool to enhance, not replace, physician care. “These technologies will help relieve the administrative burden and give physicians back the most important part of patient care: listening,” he explained. “More than ever, medicine is a field of technology. It is essential to embrace these technologies, master them and find new and innovative ways to get the best patient outcomes.”

Hester’s own journey reflects that philosophy. A first-generation college student, he completed 12 years of education at the University of Louisville, from undergraduate studies through residency, before joining Norton Healthcare. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical and Strategy Officer where his leadership continues to shape the future of health care in Kentucky and beyond.

The School of Medicine is proud to celebrate Steven Hester as a 2025 Wilson Wyatt Alumni Award winner, honoring not only his professional accomplishments but also his enduring impact on patients, providers and the field of medicine itself.