Apple has quietly hired dozens of physicians, an indicator that it's serious about health tech, CNBC reports.
Here are five things to know:
1. Apple has hired 40 to 50 physicians in the last few years, according to people familiar with the hires cited by CNBC. The physicians are scattered among various Apple teams, helping to guide strategy and decisions as the tech giant moves into healthcare.
2. While many of the physicians haven't disclosed their role at Apple — no surprise for a company that works to maintain its secrecy — CNBC found 20 physicians who worked at Apple via LinkedIn searches. One is Rajiv Kumar, MD, who works at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine's pediatrics department. He's also worked with Apple for several years.
3. The physician hires could help Apple not only win over physicians as it seeks to integrate health-related technologies into its Apple Watch, iPad and iPhone; it also suggests that Apple will explore applications that can help people with serious medical problems.
4. The number of physicians scattered among Apple teams is an indication that the tech giant is serious about helping patients manage disease, not just wellness and fitness, CNBC reports.
5. The sources familiar with the hires said many are working on the Apple Watch, which has a variety of pilot projects focusing on health sensors. Other physicians have been hired for Apple's AC Wellness group, a primary care venture that treats employees near its headquarters.
Read the full report here.