AbbottThe Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced today that Abbott president & CEO Robert B. Ford will deliver a keynote at CES 2022.

Ford’s keynote represents the first time in CES history that a healthcare company will deliver a keynote at the major technology event, according to a news release. Ford will be joined by a group of Abbott scientists, engineers, investors and partners to discuss technology in healthcare and the empowerment of people to engage in their own health.

“Technology improves lives, and now more than ever, we are witnessing technology’s incredible impact on healthcare, allowing us to take better control of our health,” CTA president & CEO Gary Shapiro said in the release. “We’ve seen a rapid shift in healthcare innovation, with technology leading the charge to bring quality healthcare to all global citizens. We are thrilled to welcome Robert to the CES keynote stage to share more about Abbott’s vision for the future of healthcare.”

Along with Abbott, Philips, 3M and a number of other healthcare innovators will showcase products at CES 2022, with the conference including programming focused on innovations in health tech.

“CES is the ideal stage to spotlight how technology is allowing people to take control of their health,” Ford said. “Health is at the center of our ability to live a full life, and the acceleration of health technology has the potential to improve more lives in more places than ever before. We look forward to sharing some of the latest health tech advancements and future possibilities at CES 2022.”

Abbott released a video on Twitter highlighting the importance of advancing technology in the space, delivering the message:

“Every first matters. Because it is the beginning of something even bigger. It’s why we’ve always risen to the challenge. Empowering others to accomplish more firsts of their own. Another first is on the horizon. We’re the first health tech innovator to deliver a keynote at CES.”

The video was accompanied by a written statement saying “your health has always come first. It’s why we’ll be front and center to share where the future of health technology is headed, and how we’ll get there.”

CES 2022 will take place in-person in Las Vegas, as well as digitally, across Jan. 5, 2022, through Jan. 8, 2022.