When I was a young bonnie lad of just 16, I was lucky enough to score a meeting with Sandy Napel, PhD at Stanford University’s Radiological Sciences Laboratory (RSL). I demonstrated a prototype algorithm that automatically identified the position and course of arteries on CT scans. It was the first shot in a nearly decade-long academic research career that included early publications on using neural networks (the precursor to today’s …
I do not fear artificial intelligence—nor do I revere it. What I feel toward the rise of intelligent systems in medicine is something quieter: a tempered trust, a measured hope. I recognize their immense potential, but I also hold firm to the belief that the deepest work of medicine happens not through automation, but through human connection. There is a quiet power that lives between symptom and story, between numbers …
In this era of digital revolution in health care, the traditional physician-patient relationship is undergoing a significant transformation. Digital tools, including telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence-based diagnostics, and various fitness applications, are reshaping how patients and clinicians interact and manage health together. While these innovations surely provide efficiency and accessibility, they also present significant challenges to the fundamental aspects of medical practice: trust, empathy, and human connection. As …
There is substantial enthusiasm around the advancements of AI in health care, as exemplified by the media attention for the new HealthBench release from OpenAI and similar recent studies from Google (MedPalm2, AIME). Market enthusiasm often leads us to believe that we’re on the brink of AI doctors treating patients worldwide. However, while these developments represent interesting technical progress, they fall short of demonstrating readiness for clinical application.
The stakes …
If you’re a clinician who’s tired of staying late at the clinic, bringing charts home, or sacrificing your lunch just to catch up on documentation—you’re not alone.
Documentation burnout is one of the top contributors to job dissatisfaction and work-life imbalance for health care professionals today.
Fortunately, new tech tools are offering a way out. Enter AI medical scribes—artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can save you so much time charting!
AI medical scribes …
When 2025 America tuned into HBO’s award-winning series The Pitt, we showed we’re seeking authenticity.
As someone who works at the intersection of health and invention and built their life around the creation of direct social impact, I see the show for what it is: a brutally honest portrayal of the intrinsic tragedy in our health care system. And an opportunity.
The Pitt’s unflinching portrayal of time, talent, and organizational politics is a …
Why doctors should care
Five core concepts, clinical parallels
When artificial intelligence developers gather to build tools that will reshape health care, one critical voice is often missing: public health.
Despite AI’s potential to improve outcomes and streamline operations, it is being developed with limited regard for public health priorities. The absence of this input is not just a technical oversight. It is an equity issue with far-reaching consequences.
From algorithmic bias to the exclusion of community-level data, equity shortcomings are …
When people think of electronic health records (EHRs), they assume these digital systems for storing patient information were designed for clinicians. But that is a fallacy. EHRs initially were designed for billing and compliance—and it shows.
Given the original purpose of EHRs, it’s not surprising that clinical workflows are disjointed. The limitations of traditional EHRs have made it more difficult for clinicians to quickly access relevant patient information at the point …
As artificial intelligence gains ground in every aspect of health care, from diagnostics to documentation, an urgent question arises: Are we gaining efficiency at the cost of empathy?
Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek’s perspective on AI and humanity, this piece explores how health care can embrace innovation without compromising the very heart of medicine.
1. Humanity first, technology second
“I’m not in the AI business. I’m in the humanity business.” – Simon Sinek
AI …
As a radiologist, I’ve heard the same question too many times, usually from anxious medical students struggling to decide if they should pursue radiology:
“Is AI going to replace radiologists?”
I understand the concern. I had similar fears during training. But after years of practicing medicine and watching AI promises play out in the real world, I can confidently say this: AI is not replacing radiologists. It’s not even close. And those …
The vast majority of my physician colleagues understand the value of interoperability for their patients and their ability to deliver high-quality care.
In the rare cases that I encounter a clinician who is unsure of interoperability’s benefits, I simply tell them that it creates a situation where everyone wins: Providers deliver better, safer, less expensive care, and patients get more coordinated experiences.
Interoperability makes a strong, positive difference in the care I …
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) spent his youth deciphering the Mississippi River, a system far more complex than any artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. He learned that real understanding demands nuance, context, and skepticism. Were he alive today, he’d likely see NarxCare, the controversial opioid-risk AI algorithm, as a cautionary tale about the dangers of replacing human judgment with lies, damn lies, and statistics.
NarxCare scores patients based on morphine milligram equivalents and …
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A comprehensive 2025 framework on medical education reform has laid bare a critical challenge: The traditional path to becoming a doctor is failing to meet the demands of modern health care. The consequences are stark: 70 percent of medical students report frequent feelings of burnout, persistent health disparities remain entrenched, and a median debt of $200,000 is pushing graduates away from essential careers in primary and public service care.
This new …
Healthcare organizations continue to face financial and operational efficiency pressures to implement or upgrade their electronic health record (EHR) systems, driven largely by the push for greater interoperability and the need to consolidate disparate systems. While the benefits of modern, integrated EHR systems are clear, the path to successful implementation remains complex and challenging for many organizations.
The foundation: Stakeholder engagement and leadership buy-in
The success of any EHR implementation hinges on …
There’s a growing disconnect between the promises being made about artificial intelligence in health care and what’s being delivered. If you’re a health system leader, it’s time to take a discerning view—not because AI lacks potential, but because many of the solutions entering the market are more marketing than medicine.
We’ve seen this dynamic before.
Earlier this month, a fintech founder was charged with defrauding investors after promoting an AI-powered shopping app …
Let’s bust a myth: Health care is not just about rules, protocols, and playing it safe. In fact, real breakthroughs happen when we dare to think differently.
Whether it’s improving patient outcomes, solving staffing gaps, or designing more human-centered workflows, the future of health care demands creative thinking at every level.
And no—you don’t need to be an “artist” to be creative in medicine.
Why creativity is no longer optional
Health care is under …
Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, poised to reshape research, health care delivery, and medical decision-making. A new interactive slideshow delves into this shift, highlighting self-improving AI systems like the Darwin Gödel Machine and autonomous AI development.
Here are the key takeaways and their implications for medicine and beyond.
The age of self-improving AI has arrived.
Until recently, AI systems relied heavily on human engineers to design and tune their capabilities. That’s changing. The …
Imagine a health care team treating your elderly loved one—without the full picture. This is the reality of the U.S. health care system. Our system is failing nursing home residents, the most vulnerable population, by dragging out an outdated, inefficient data-sharing system. To improve nursing home care, health data must be efficiently shared and organized across hospitals and facilities, ensuring tailored treatments for patients with complex conditions. Unfortunately, existing Read more…
Turning real world data into insights
A lot has been said and written about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance and improve health care. And while there are still many challenges to overcome and questions to answer, one area in particular shows dramatic positive results.
The use of AI to unscramble the unstructured data from electronic health care records (EHR) is uncovering previously hidden insights and bringing significant advances to …
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