History, however, offers a useful caution. Breakthrough technologies in medicine rarely achieve their full potential simply because they exist. Their real impact depends on whether the institutions responsible for health-care delivery know how to adopt them wisely, integrate them responsibly and align them with their mission to improve patient health.

Artificial intelligence now stands at that same threshold. The industry has moved beyond fascination with what algorithms can do and entered a more demanding phase: determining how these tools should be evaluated, governed, and integrated into the environments where care is delivered. At the same time, some health professionals are turning to AI – not to augment their knowledge – but assuming the information is patient-care ready.

Across the health ecosystem, leaders are discovering that the most important questions about artificial intelligence are not technological. They are organizational, ethical and operational. Which AI systems genuinely improve clinical decision-making? Which tools strengthen the efficiency of hospitals and health systems? Which innovations introduce complexity without delivering measurable benefit?

Answering those questions requires a perspective that bridges policy leadership, real-world care delivery, and the scientific foundations of biomedical informatics. That convergence of experience sits at the center of a “Views From the Top” mainstage discussion at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, where some 35,000 leaders whose work spans the global health ecosystem will examine how organizations can recognize the true value proposition of artificial intelligence applications before embedding them into health-care systems.

The perspectives shaping this discussion reflect three essential dimensions of responsible artificial intelligence in health: governance frameworks that guide innovation, operational insights from large-scale health care delivery, and scientific rigor grounded in biomedical informatics. Together, these vantage points illuminate the path from technological promise to practical value.

Governing Innovation in a Rapidly Changing Health Ecosystem

Digital transformation in health rarely succeeds simply because technology exists. It succeeds when organizations develop leadership frameworks capable of evaluating innovation, managing risk and aligning new tools with patient-centered goals.

Few leaders have observed the evolution of digital health across as many national systems and institutional environments as Hal Wolf, president and chief executive officer of HIMSS, Ran Balicer, MD, PhD, chief innovation officer of Clalit Health Services and Isaac Kohane, MD, PhD, chair of biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School. The three will step onto the mainstage at HIMSS to share their “View from the Top” in a session titled: “Recognizing the ‘Value Proposition’ Criteria While Selecting AI Applications.”

Through his work with global government health ministries, hospital networks, and technology innovators worldwide, Wolf has consistently emphasized that technological progress must be anchored in governance and trust.

“Digital health transformation is not about technology alone. It is about leadership, governance, and the trust that allows innovation to improve care,” Wolf has said in discussions about global digital health transformation.

Artificial intelligence intensifies this leadership challenge because its influence extends far beyond traditional clinical tools. AI systems increasingly operate across multiple layers of healthcare delivery. Some applications assist clinicians by analyzing medical data or suggesting treatment options. Others function within hospitals’ and health systems’ operational infrastructure, helping manage patient flow, prioritize diagnostic reviews, and allocate scarce resources.

These operational algorithms rarely capture headlines; however,  they shape the environment in which health care is delivered. Decisions about which cases are reviewed first, how clinicians allocate their attention, and how health systems manage capacity can profoundly influence patient outcomes.

For leaders responsible for health systems, artificial intelligence cannot be treated as simply another technological upgrade. It must be evaluated through governance structures capable of understanding how algorithms function, what assumptions shape their recommendations, and how their use aligns with institutional priorities.

Without that oversight, innovation risks amplifying complexity rather than improving care. Instead of informing, it can spread misinformation.

Aligning Artificial Intelligence With the Values of Medicine

Governance provides the policy foundation for responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, but real-world implementation reveals a second challenge: ensuring that AI systems operate effectively within healthcare delivery itself.

Large population health systems increasingly use advanced analytics to anticipate risk, manage chronic disease, and allocate clinical resources across diverse communities. Within these environments, artificial intelligence is no longer a theoretical innovation. It is already influencing how health organizations prioritize patients, coordinate care and deploy limited resources.

That operational perspective is central to Ran Balicer, MD, PhD, of Clalit Health Services, one of the world’s most advanced data-driven health systems. The Clalit integrated infrastructure connects hospitals, clinics, and community health programs through longitudinal datasets that support predictive analytics at the national scale.

Experience within such systems reinforces an important insight: artificial intelligence models do not function independently of human judgment. They reflect priorities embedded in their design and the assumptions guiding their deployment.

“Algorithms are opinions embedded in code,” Balicer has observed in discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in population health.

In practice, this means that AI systems interpret clinical data through frameworks shaped by human choices. The way a model defines risk, prioritizes cases, or recommends interventions reflects decisions about what matters most within a healthcare environment.

Those decisions carry ethical implications. When artificial intelligence helps determine which patients receive immediate attention or which cases are escalated for further review, transparency about how algorithms function becomes essential to maintaining trust among clinicians and patients alike. The scientific frontier of health-care AI reinforces that concern.

Isaac Kohane, MD, PhD, who has also served as a co-author of the Institute of Medicine Report on Precision Medicine, which has served as the template for national efforts, has spent decades exploring how machine learning can advance medicine while preserving the judgment that defines clinical practice. His research emphasizes that artificial intelligence in healthcare must align with the ethical traditions and professional responsibilities of medicine.

“AI systems in medicine must ultimately reflect the values of the profession they serve,” Kohane has written in discussions about AI alignment in biomedical informatics.

This perspective highlights a crucial distinction between technological capability and clinical responsibility. Many AI models entering healthcare environments were originally designed for broader computational tasks rather than the nuanced realities of patient care. Medicine operates within a landscape shaped by uncertainty, empathy, and accountability, and technologies introduced into that environment must reflect those values.

Ensuring that artificial intelligence aligns with the principles guiding health-care delivery, therefore, represents one of the most important scientific and ethical challenges facing the future of health.

The Discipline Required to Make Innovation Matter

The health sector has experienced waves of technological enthusiasm before. Electronic health records promised seamless information exchange, but then introduced administrative burdens on health professionals when implemented without thoughtful workflow design. Data analytics promised unprecedented insight, but sometimes led to fragmentation when systems failed to communicate across institutions.

Artificial intelligence now stands at a similar moment in the evolution of health technology.

Its capabilities in supporting decision-making flow are extraordinary, yet realizing them will require disciplined leadership to evaluate, integrate and govern AI tools within health-care delivery systems. Health leaders must learn to ask deeper questions before embracing the next algorithmic breakthrough. What problem does this system truly solve? How does it strengthen clinical practice? What assumptions guide its recommendations? How does its use advance the mission of improving patient health?

These questions move the conversation beyond technological novelty toward operational practicality. It’s among the many reasons these three global leaders step to the HIMSS stage together.

Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly reshape the health ecosystem in the years ahead. Its long-term impact, however, will not be determined solely by the sophistication of algorithms or the speed of technological progress. Along with how to leverage AI, ChatGPT and LLMs, users require heightened cognitive awareness.

It will be determined by whether the health community develops the discipline and ability required to translate innovation into systems that strengthen care, support clinicians and improve the health of the populations they serve.

The real story of artificial intelligence in health is no longer about what machines can do. It is about how wisely the health sector chooses to use them.

The post From AI Excitement to Execution: Why Health Leaders Must Now Master the “How” appeared first on Medika Life.

These 20 people are not just theorizing about the whizzbang of hot technology but rolling up their sleeves and demonstrating its value in real-world settings—to improve diagnostic care, access information that can inform treatment, address health inequities, and ensure the financial sustainability of health provider systems that operate on razor-thin margins. Their collective work offers a blueprint for leveraging AI responsibly and (hopefully) ethically, from streamlining hospital operations and enhancing clinical decision-making to revolutionizing drug discovery.

The current AI evolution presents both opportunities and challenges. Health systems face increasing demands, including rising patient expectations and staffing shortages. Implementing AI and large language models (LLMs) can address these concerns by enabling faster and more accurate treatment plans, automating administrative burdens, and personalizing patient care. However, realizing AI’s full potential requires thoughtful application, ethical considerations, and a commitment to addressing disparities.

These 20 champion AI’s practical application, guiding health systems toward innovation without losing sight of humankind’s well-being. They exemplify how AI can enhance rather than replace human expertise—an essential message as we continue to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape. By following their work, health-sector leaders and innovators can gain invaluable insights into deploying AI for meaningful impact.

Trailblazers Redefining Health Innovation

While many thinkers will wow you with the future possibilities of these technologies, the 20 on this roster demonstrate transformative influence on the future of diagnostics, operational efficiency, and personalized care while emphasizing responsible, ethical implementation. From academia to industry, they provide vital insights and direction into leveraging AI for better health outcomes. Their work underscores AI’s ability to augment human expertise, providing a roadmap for health systems to innovate without losing sight of patient-centric care. Thanks to them and the others appearing on our Medika Life 2023 and 2024 list, we define AI as “augmented implementation” and not artificial intelligence.

How were they selected? They are public-facing, sharing their thoughts in articles, books, keynotes, classroom talks, research papers, and conferences. They willingly share their knowledge with others on their social media platforms. They spark ideas and challenge our current thinking, and these behaviors make them invaluable to the future application of information and its human health impact. Each person appears in hyperlinks so that readers can explore the depth of their contributions and, whenever possible, follow them on their social media platforms.

20 Voices of Influence Shaping AI in Health

Regina Barzilay, PhD

Dr. Barzilay, an MIT professor and MacArthur Fellow, is revolutionizing oncology and drug discovery through AI. Her pioneering work in machine learning has led to breakthroughs in early cancer detection, particularly in breast cancer screening. As co-founder and AI faculty lead of the MIT Jameel Clinic and the AI Cures initiative, she’s spearheading efforts to deploy AI models for cancer risk prediction in hospitals around the globe and accelerate drug development for infectious diseases. Dr. Barzilay’s work in oncology and drug discovery is paving the way for screening policies and new treatments.

• LinkedIn
• X

Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, MS

Dr. Anthony Chang, a pediatric cardiologist and founder of AIMed, is a driving force in AI education for health professionals. His book Intelligence-Based Medicine has become a cornerstone text. Dr. Chang’s recent work focuses on developing AI-powered predictive models for pediatric cardiac care and implementing AI solutions to enhance hospital operational efficiency. His annual AIMed conference has become a global platform for sharing cutting-edge AI health innovation.

• LinkedIn
• X

Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH

Google Chief Health Officer DeSalvo leads initiatives that leverage AI and big data to address critical public health challenges and promote health equity. Her work includes developing AI-driven tools for early disease detection in underserved communities and creating platforms that provide real-time health data analytics for policymakers. Dr. DeSalvo’s leadership in responsible AI use ensures that Google’s health technologies prioritize patient privacy and ethical considerations.

• LinkedIn
• X

Pamela Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Davis is a distinguished researcher at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine specializing in AI-driven diagnostics and clinical applications. After 13 years as the Dean of the School of Medicine, she returned to the faculty. Her work centers on predictive algorithms for early disease detection and improved treatment planning. But Dr. Davis is an anomaly to this roster. She has no social media handles and her many published works are not curated carefully. Yet, tracking her contributions shows her depth and national influence on the future of AI in practice. With numerous published studies on AI’s transformative role in health, Dr. Davis continues to shape the future of diagnostic pathways.

• Mail

David Feinberg, MD, MBA

As Chair of Oracle Health, Feinberg champions using AI and cloud-based technologies to improve health outcomes. He focuses on predictive analytics and data-driven tools that enhance clinical decision-making and streamline hospital operations. His leadership drives innovation in health technology integration. Dr. Feinberg is widely recognized for his transformative leadership as CEO of Geisinger Health, where he pioneered initiatives in population health, precision medicine, and value-based care. His expertise in integrating technology with health-care delivery continues to drive innovation, making digital tools more accessible and impactful for providers and patients.

• LinkedIn
• X

John Halamka, MD, MS

John Halamka, President of the Mayo Clinic Platform, is a trailblazer in AI-driven health solutions, leveraging data and technology to transform patient care. Co-author of The Digital Reconstruction of Healthcare, Halamka is a leading voice on digital transformation, interoperability, and the ethical use of AI in medicine. His work at the Mayo Clinic focuses on developing scalable digital platforms and AI models to advance diagnostics, remote monitoring, and personalized medicine. With a background spanning emergency medicine, informatics, and policy, Halamka’s insights continue to guide health systems toward a more connected, efficient, and data-driven future.

• LinkedIn
• X

Taha Kass-Hout, MD, MS

Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, General Manager of Amazon Health AI, is a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence to drive advancements in healthcare delivery. With a background in clinical practice, public health, and digital innovation, he leads initiatives that harness AI for improved diagnostics, care management, and population health outcomes. Previously, as the first FDA Chief Health Informatics Officer, he championed data-driven approaches to public health. His leadership at Amazon drives scalable, data-driven health models that integrate machine learning with real-world applications, positioning him as a key influencer in the future of AI in health.

• LinkedIn
• X

Isaac Kohane, MD, PhD

Dr. Kohane, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School and co-author of The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond, is a leading authority on the intersection of AI and clinical care. His research focuses on using machine learning for precision medicine and improving electronic health records. Dr. Kohane has been instrumental in developing AI models that enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. His recent work explores the potential of LLMs, such as ChatGPT, in clinical decision-making and patient engagement.

• LinkedIn
• X

Daniel Kraft, MD

Dr. Daniel Kraft is the founder of Exponential Medicine and a visionary in personalized medicine approaches. He’s an inventor, a former F-16 flight surgeon, and always ready to champion others’ bold ideas. Dr. Kraft explores how AI can transform health delivery and disease prevention. Dr. Kraft’s recent initiatives focus on AI-powered tools for early diagnosis and patient engagement. His next chapter includes the very successful NextMed Health and the evolution of Exponential Medicine. NextMed Health 2025 will be held in San Diego on March 30 and April 2, 2025.

• LinkedIn
• X

Tom Lawry

Tom Lawry, soon to be the author of his highly anticipated new book Health Care Nation: The Future Is Calling, and It’s Better Than You Think, may redefine the intersection of technology and patient care. Already renowned as the author of Hacking Healthcare, Lawry has built a reputation as a leading AI strategist who advises organizations on integrating cutting-edge AI solutions to boost operational efficiency. His former role at Microsoft as Director for AI for Health and Life Sciences, Director of Worldwide Health, and Director of Organizational Performance for the company’s first health incubator cements his standing as a trailblazer in health innovation. He’s almost always a keynote favorite at conferences such as HLTH and HIMSS.

• LinkedIn
• X

Fei-Fei Li, PhD

Dr. Fei-Fei Li is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in AI, emphasizing ethical considerations and societal impact. She co-founded AI4ALL, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity in artificial intelligence, and has played a pivotal role in shaping policies for responsible AI development. Her leadership continues to influence the global AI landscape, bridging technology with human values.

• LinkedIn
• X

Vivian Lee, MD, PhD, MBA

Dr. Lee, author of The Long Fix, is a pioneering health tech executive driving data-driven health transformation. Her recent work includes developing AI-powered platforms for value-based care models and implementing predictive analytics to reduce hospital readmissions. Dr. Lee’s initiatives as former president at Verily Life Sciences focused on leveraging AI to optimize care delivery across diverse populations.

• LinkedIn
• X

Peter Lee, PhD

As Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Health, Dr. Peter Lee spearheads initiatives that apply AI to solve complex health-sector challenges. His recent projects include developing AI models for precision medicine and creating cloud-based solutions for health data interoperability. In his role, Dr. Lee seeks to solve complex health-sector challenges by integrating cutting-edge technology with practical healthcare applications.

• LinkedIn
• X

John Nosta

John Nosta has earned his place as a top influence in the AI landscape—particularly in discussions surrounding ChatGPT and large language models—due to his visionary insights and ability to demystify complex technological innovations. His thought leadership bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical, real-world applications, making the transformative potential of these tools accessible to a broad audience. By articulating AI’s promise and ethical challenges, Nosta fosters a balanced dialogue that drives the industry forward. His forward-thinking perspective and engaging commentary not only illuminate the evolving impact of AI on various sectors but also inspire both startups and established companies to reimagine the future of technology. Nosta has an upcoming book that is expected to drop sometime in fall 2025.

• LinkedIn
• X

Ziad Obermeyer, MD

Ziad Obermeyer, MD, is the Blue Cross of California Distinguished Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, researching the intersection of machine learning, medicine and health policy. His work has exposed biases in clinical algorithms and highlighted disparities in care delivery. As a co-founder of Nightingale Open Science, he promotes data transparency and collaboration to advance medical AI. His contributions are reshaping predictive analytics and decision-making in healthcare. Before his full-time career in emergency medicine, he consulted pharmaceutical and global health clients at McKinsey & Co. in New Jersey, Geneva, and Tokyo.

• LinkedIn
• X

Neal Patel, MD, MPH

As the Chief Information Officer for Health IT at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Dr. Patel leads the integration of advanced technologies into health delivery. With more than two decades of experience in HIT, Patel has been instrumental in computerized physician order entry systems and electronic health records to enhance clinical and quality processes. He focuses on translating VUMC goals into informatics strategies, optimizing patient care, and improving safety and services across the care continuum. Dr. Patel’s work underscores the transformative potential of AI and LLMs in the provider system.

• LinkedIn

Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP

As Senior Vice President at CVS Health, Rhee leads initiatives that leverage AI for health equity and personalized care. His recent projects include implementing AI-driven health risk assessments in underserved communities and developing machine learning models to predict medication adherence. Through his leadership, CVS has deployed AI-powered virtual care solutions expanding access to preventive services and helping to close care gaps while improving outcomes for diverse patient populations.

• LinkedIn
• X

Nigam Shah, MBBS, PhD

Dr. Shah, a professor at Stanford University, specializes in applying AI to clinical workflows and electronic health records. His recent work includes developing AI models for real-time clinical decision support and creating algorithms to identify patients for clinical trials. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on machine learning applications in healthcare and co-authored chapters in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine. Shah also leads Stanford’s Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, advancing research on AI’s role in population health and precision medicine.

• LinkedIn
• X

Eric Topol, MD

Dr. Eric Topol is not just “a” trailblazer in digital medicine. He will likely be among those acknowledged singular voices bridging the possible with the practical. His groundbreaking work has consistently pushed the boundaries of health innovation. Dr. Topol redefined patient empowerment with his seminal book The Patient Will See You Now. He transformed the traditional healthcare model, advocating for a future where technology facilitates personalized, proactive care. As the author of Deep Medicine, he continues to champion the integration of AI in health, exploring its potential to revolutionize patient care. Dr. Topol’s visionary contributions and commitment to merging clinical expertise with cutting-edge technology have established him as a guiding voice at the intersection of care and innovation, making him a standout influencer in AI applications.

• LinkedIn
• X

Hal Wolf, III, FHIMSS

Harold (Hal) Wolf is the president and CEO of HIMSS, a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of the health ecosystem through information and technology. If health-related smart technologies such as AI, ChatGPT, GenAI, and LLMs have a central home to discuss policies and implementation, it is HIMSS. Hal shepherds the world’s health information management community. While his staff advance science and policy, championing implementation throughout the ecosystem. Wolf and HIMSS are where theory meets action. Wolf is far more than a leader of a global society of import; he is the community’s ambassador to NGOs, governments, and industry.

• LinkedIn

The Rise of Generative AI in Digital Health: Key Insights from Galen Growth

Beyond tracking the 20 listed in the year’s people to watch and the previous two years, following the Galen Growth executive briefing Generative AI in Digital Health – Hype or Reality? The report is a must-read for AI, ChatGPT, and LLM professionals. It reveals how nearly 4,000 digital health ventures leverage AI, with 2% focused on generative AI. Notably, 27% of these applications enhance health management, and over 330 AI-driven ventures have partnered with health systems in the past five years. This report offers critical insights into AI’s growing impact on digital health innovation.

Acknowledgments

I thank my Medika Life colleagues, including Drs. Robert Turner, Jeff Livingston, Hesham A. Hassaballa, Patricia Farrell, and Michael Hunter, whose commitment to public health information inspire. I am also grateful to the many sector professionals I engage at events such as CNS Summit, DHAI, HIMSS, HITLAB, HLTH, and ViVE—people who generously share perspectives and contribute invaluable recommendations. A shout-out to Christina Raish, our new associate editor at Medika Life, for her support in making this feature possible.

Special recognition goes to those who have appeared on past Medika Life lists and remain engaged in advancing health and well-being. Their commitment to meaningful change is commendable to individuals and the planet. These trailblazers continue to push boundaries, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to improving lives.

Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been awed and challenged by technological progress—from the mastery of fire to artificial intelligence. Each era, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age and now the Information and Cognitive Age, has demanded careful consideration of how best to harness innovation. Today, as we navigate the era of “thinking” technologies, one truth remains unchanged: the power of human insight, courage, and empathy must guide progress.

—Gil Bashe, Editor-in-Chief, Medika.Life

Remember to Follow the Voices of Influence from our 2023 and 2024 Rosters:

Spot a broken link, typo, forgotten degree, or name misspelled?

Oops! Apologies! While care has been taken in compiling this list and adding social media links, things go wrong: a name is misspelled, a link is broken, or an incorrect social media handle is listed. Please do get in touch to address typos, amendments, or omissions by reaching gil.bashe@medika.life.

Thanks in advance and be healthy!

The post 20 People Who are Transforming the Health Ecosystem Through Practical Paths to Apply AI – 2025 Roster appeared first on Medika Life.