Episode 214 - The Future of Medicine Requires Trust, Technology, and Leadership

In this episode, Dr. Dhruv Khullar, Associate Professor of Medicine and Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine, explores how technology, public trust, and the evolving role of physicians are reshaping healthcare. Drawing on his experience as both a practicing clinician and a leading commentator on health policy, he argues that medicine is no longer the singular authority on health. Physicians now share influence with social media, AI tools, direct-to-consumer health companies, and a growing ecosystem of digital health platforms.

Dr. Khullar also discusses the promise and pitfalls of AI, emphasizing that while the technology can improve documentation, patient navigation, drug discovery, and clinical decision support, its adoption must be guided by evidence and rigorous evaluation. According to him, AI’s greatest opportunity may be helping restore the human connection in care by removing administrative burdens and creating more space for meaningful patient interactions.

The conversation also explores physician education, AI literacy, value-based care, public trust, and the growing commercialization of healthcare. Dr. Khullar returns to a central theme: technology alone will not solve healthcare’s challenges. Progress will require stronger communication, thoughtful leadership, and a renewed commitment to putting patients, not profit, at the center of care. Take a listen.

This guest appearance was facilitated through conversations initiated at Health Tech Summit.