By Didi Davis, VP, Informatics, Conformance and Interoperability at The Sequoia Project, and Interoperability Matters Data Usability Workgroup Lead
The Sequoia Project extends deep gratitude to Dr. Adam Davis for his years of volunteer leadership and steadfast commitment to the Interoperability Matters Data Usability Workgroup (DUWG).
From the beginning, this effort has been about one thing: making health data not just exchangeable, but usable. We are grateful for Dr. Davis’ leadership contributions resulting in the DUWG guidance raising the bar.
Through his service, the Workgroup matured from a concept into a movement, producing practical guidance, convening diverse stakeholders, and publishing tangible tools that move the industry beyond technical connectivity toward trusted, high-quality, fit-for-purpose data.
Turning Vision into Action
Under Dr. Davis’s co-leadership, the Data Usability Workgroup:
- Convened clinicians, implementers, networks, and vendors around real-world pain points
- Advanced structured guidance and concepts that elevate data quality expectations
- Reinforced the principle that interoperability without usability is unfinished work
This has not been academic discussion. It has been operational leadership.
As a physician executive and nationally respected informatics leader, Dr. Davis brought a clinician’s clarity to every conversation: If the data cannot be trusted or efficiently used at the point of care, we have more work to do.
Volunteer leadership is often invisible. It happens in early morning calls, late-night draft reviews, thoughtful edits, and hard conversations about what “good” really looks like.
Most importantly, he helped build momentum around a simple but powerful idea: data quality and usability are shared responsibilities for health data exchange.
The publications released to date reflect that discipline and collaboration and we are proud of what has been accomplished together.
A New Chapter — and Continued Momentum
As Dr. Davis shifts his focus toward family, we thank him sincerely for his service and leadership. Volunteer contributions like his are what make industry transformation possible.
At the same time, progress continues.
The Sequoia Project is pleased to announce that Phil Beckett of Texas Health Resources will step in as incoming co-chair of the Data Usability Workgroup, partnering with Dr. Bill Gregg to carry this work forward.
Phil brings strong operational insight from one of the nation’s leading health systems and a deep understanding of real-world interoperability challenges. His leadership will help ensure the Workgroup continues to produce pragmatic guidance that organizations can implement, not just admire.
The Work Continues
Data usability is not a side project. It is foundational to trust, safety, performance measurement, value-based care, public health response, and patient empowerment.
The Data Usability Workgroup remains committed to:
- Advancing measurable usability standards
- Driving implementation across networks and vendors
- Elevating accountability for data quality
- Supporting scalable, real-world adoption
We are grateful for the leaders who step up to serve and proud of the work that has been built through collaboration.
Dr. Adam Davis, thank you for helping move this industry forward.
And Phil Beckett — welcome. We are excited to continue building what works.
Interested in getting involved? Learn more about the Data Usability Workgroup and the Data Usability Taking Root Movement. Reach out to InteropMatters@sequoiaproject.org or TakingRoot@sequoiaproject.org if you have questions on how to join.