Sandhya Jayaraman

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About

Sandhya Jayaraman is a leading voice at the intersection of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and healthcare ethics. Her research critically examines how social robots can be responsibly integrated into sensitive care environments, with a primary focus on privacy, trust, and patient dignity. In her highly cited 2023 work, "Privacy and utility perceptions of social robots in healthcare" (28 citations), Jayaraman established a foundational framework for understanding how privacy concerns directly shape robot adoption and utility in clinical settings. She expanded this work in 2024 by systematically characterizing privacy considerations unique to healthcare robotics. Her most recent and notable contribution, "Designing Care-fully: Robots for Acute Cancer Care" (2026), represents a paradigm shift in the field—arguing that robots cannot solve systemic healthcare failures like understaffing, but can be designed to help patients with cancer feel seen and heard in overwhelmed Emergency Departments. Jayaraman’s work is distinguished by its human-centered, ethically rigorous approach, ensuring that technological innovation serves patient well-being rather than replacing human connection. Her research is essential reading for anyone interested in responsible, compassionate robotics in medicine.