How AI is shaping the future of medicine

At the Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA), we enable high level women to mentor each other to enable each leader to achieve personal and professional happiness through sisterhood. As the nonprofit organization’s founder, chair, and CEO, I am honored to interview and share insights from some of the thought leaders who are part of our peer-to-peer mentoring. This month I introduce to you to Catherine Calarco, board director of Optomed, which is focused on AI and healthcare. She is recognized for leading profitable growth and transformative change across industries, integrating AI into healthcare. What has been your journey into AI, healthcare, and medtech? My journey was shaped by my upbringing in a healthcare family—my father was a health educator, and my mother was a nurse. That environment gave me a strong sense of wanting to make a positive impact, and I’ve always had a passion for science. I’ve consistently led at the intersection of new technology and humanity, leveraging AI across diverse sectors—from innovating 3D tech for drug discovery to advancing digital health and intelligent automation. My vision is to integrate AI into systems that not only save lives but also make patient care more compassionate. What are some of the transformative advancements in AI for healthcare? AI is transforming healthcare in profound ways. AI-powered medical imaging improves diagnostic accuracy, enabling earlier and more precise disease detection leading to better outcomes. One example: Optomed’s FDA-approved AI-powered portable Fundus camera enables diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care, enhancing early detection and aiding in vision loss risk reduction by 95%. AI is also accelerating drug discovery, shortening the time to market for new treatments. Personalized medicine is another advancement; AI tailors treatments based on a patient’s genetic profile and history, improving outcomes and minimizing side effects. Predictive models help identify patients at risk of complications or health deterioration, enabling timely, life-saving interventions. You emphasize the importance of integrating human compassion within AI-driven solutions. How do you ensure these technologies are truly human-centric? Leaders need to foster self-awareness and compassionate leadership, maintaining a human-centric approach to AI solutions. This supports continuous learning and ethical innovation. Leaders can guide AI adoption in ways that enhance human potential. By embedding strong values into their strategies, organizations can harness AI’s potential while fostering a valued workforce. Groups like the Center for AI and Digital Policy and The Coalition for Health AI offer guidance. I appreciate Joy Buolamwini’s research on algorithmic bias at MIT and the efforts of consulting firms in supporting ethical AI implementations. Operational efficiency is crucial in healthcare. How is AI reshaping these operations? AI optimizes resource use and reduces inefficiencies. Predictive analytics forecast patient demand and resource needs, leading to better planning. In many companies, machine learning, neural networks, and automation systems improve supply chain management, predicting demand for supplies and reducing waste. AI-driven clinical decision support enhances decision making, improving outcomes. AI chatbots and virtual assistants transform customer service and patient engagement, providing 24/7 support and freeing up human staff for more complex tasks. One medtech company created an AI virtual assistant to support and train users on an anesthesia monitoring device. In medtech manufacturing, AI-powered quality control systems improve product reliability and cut costs. The key is to start with low-risk, high-impact use cases and expand gradually, aligning with broader digital transformation projects. What challenges do you foresee with the rapid advancement of AI in healthcare? Data quality and privacy are major challenges. Ensuring accurate data is essential for AI models and protecting patient information is critical. AI algorithms can also perpetuate biases if not carefully designed, leading to inequities in care. While AI improves efficiency, it can impact jobs, so retraining and upskilling the workforce are needed. Managing AI’s speed requires teamwork. Collaboration, internally and with external partners, accelerates AI integration and knowledge sharing. Investing in talent acquisition, upskilling, retention, and considering ethical implications and regulatory compliance are essential. Where do you see the most exciting opportunities for future AI applications in patient care? The future of AI in healthcare is promising. AI-powered wearable devices can continuously monitor patients and detect health issues early. AI-assisted surgical robots are improving precision and reducing surgical risks. AI is also making strides in mental health support, offering accessible care through virtual therapists and chatb