Duke Distinguished Faculty Fellow and Executive-in-Residence Lee Tiedrich, JD, BSE, is joining Duke AI Health in the newly created role of Responsible Technology Scholar. A noted expert in law, policy, and multi-disciplinary approaches relating to artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technologies, Tiedrich brings decades of experience on the national and international stage. She is an expert in both the OECD AI Expert Group and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Expert Group and has presented on these topics around the world. Prior to joining Duke, Ms. Tiedrich was a partner with the global law firm Covington & Burling, LLP, where she led the global and multi-disciplinary Artificial Intelligence Initiative. 

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Tiedrich as Responsible Technology Scholar and will benefit from her unique background and abilities,” notes Michael Pencina, PhD, chief data scientist for Duke Health, vice dean for data science at the Duke University School of Medicine, and director of Duke AI Health.

“Her deep understanding of the technical and governance aspects of these powerful new technologies will be essential to our efforts to build effective partnerships rooted in principles of ethical and equitable data science.”

At Duke AI Health, Ms. Tiedrich will continue her work on responsible AI, data and emerging technologies with a focus on healthcare. She also will collaborate with Duke AI Health on expanding engagement in effective collaborations with partners from industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.

“Responsible data and AI hold so much promise to advance the quality and accessibility of healthcare, including to underserved populations. It requires a multi-disciplinary approach, bringing together diverse experts, including in data science, engineering, healthcare, law, policy, and ethics,” said Ms. Tiedrich. “I am excited to collaborate with my Duke AI Health and other colleagues to help realize this potential for Durham and the broader global community.”

With a background that includes a degree in electrical engineering from Duke University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and decades of legal experience, Tiedrich has advised organizations on how to implement responsible AI practices.  She has held leadership positions with the American Bar Association and has served as a peer reviewer for Oxford University Press.  She is a co-author of the forthcoming casebook, The Law of Artificial Intelligence, and has several other publications. She is a member of the CEIMIA Board of Directors, served on the Biden Campaign Policy Committee, and is registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

“Lee brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to discussions about these emerging technologies,” says Duke Law professor and Duke Science and Society Director Nita Farahany, PhD, JD, who goes on to note that the accelerating pace of development in the fields of AI and data science creates an urgent need for expert guidance to prevent novel technologies from outpacing the legal and ethical frameworks vital to ensuring their quality, safety, and fairness.

Tiedrich’s role as Responsible Technology Scholar with the School of Medicine’s AI Health group represents one part of a joint appointment housed primarily within Pratt School of Engineering, where she will serve as Executive in Residence, with an additional appointment as Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Law and Responsible Technology for Duke Science and Society.

“AI and modern data science are fundamentally multidisciplinary undertakings,” notes Jerome Lynch, PhD, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering. “Given her unique background, Ms. Tiedrich is a perfect fit for a demanding role that bridges law, governance, science, and engineering.”