Medtronic plc announced on an unspecified date that it was named to the FORTUNE 2026 Change the World list for its Touch Surgery ecosystem and the Healthy Neighbor program operated through Medtronic LABS. The annual list highlights companies addressing global issues and driving social or environmental change.
The Touch Surgery Ecosystem and AI Surgical Support
The Touch Surgery ecosystem uses artificial intelligence to analyze surgical procedures and enables livestreaming for remote collaboration, helping physicians review operations and refine their techniques. The platform connects the surgical journey from planning and training to intraoperative collaboration, supporting thousands of surgeons across more than 30 countries.
In July 2026, the company introduced Touch Surgery Aide, a next-generation operating room compute platform that extends the system with real-time, AI-powered support. The tool delivers actionable insights during robotic and laparoscopic procedures, allowing surgical teams to review cases and improve decision-making.
According to Matt Anderson, senior vice president and president of the Surgical business at Medtronic, Our vision is to make the best surgery available to more people, regardless of where they live.
"The Touch Surgery ecosystem enables surgeons to deliver upon intelligence and perform procedures with greater consistency and confidence."
Medtronic LABS and Virtua Health Address Camden Health Disparities
Through a partnership with Virtua Health, the nonprofit Medtronic LABS launched the Healthy Neighbor program in Camden, New Jersey, to target chronic health disparities. Camden residents face a life expectancy nearly 16 years shorter than neighborhoods situated 6.5 miles away, driven by disproportionately high rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
The program deploys community health workers directly to the homes of patients managing high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes to provide ongoing care coordination. Workers utilize a digital health platform to record basic health metrics, track blood pressure and glucose levels over time, and flag elevated readings for clinical follow-up.
Data from more than 250 enrolled patients over a two-year period demonstrated measurable clinical improvements:
- 74 percent of patients with uncontrolled hypertension achieved meaningful improvement, registering an average 15-point drop in systolic blood pressure.
- 69 percent of patients with uncontrolled diabetes achieved meaningful improvement, recording a 1.2 percent mean drop in hemoglobin A1C.
Commenting on the acknowledgment, Ruchika Singhal, president of Medtronic LABS, noted that Being recognized is not just an honor, but an affirmation that our work at Medtronic to put patients first in every aspect of the business is making a meaningful impact,
adding that True innovation in healthcare should be comprehensive – from developing the technology itself to rethinking delivery models – and should improve health outcomes no matter your ZIP code or income.
Global Reach of Medtronic Technologies
Headquartered in Galway, Ireland, Medtronic operates in more than 150 countries with a workforce exceeding 95,000 employees. The company’s portfolio spans approximately 70 health conditions, encompassing cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, and patient monitoring systems. Medtronic LABS continues to develop localized, tech-enabled care delivery models designed to expand access to healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions globally.
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