Douglas Flora: I sometimes feel like Ignas Semmelweis when I talk about AI

Douglas Flora shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Have you seen this man?

Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician in the 1840s, figured out that handwashing with a chlorine solution drastically cut down infection rates, especially in maternity wards. Doctors were unknowingly spreading disease between autopsies and deliveries, but despite the clear benefits, his peers were slow to adopt his ideas.

I sometimes feel like Semmelweis when I talk about AI in healthcare around the country. Sure, AI is new and can feel like a big leap, but if it can save lives, it’s worth it. And hey, even if the potential of AI to save lives doesn’t excite you yet, here’s a bonus: AI can already write your progress notes for you. Is that enough to get your attention?

If only there were a good journal that shared important, peer reviewed papers on these topic.”

Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn

Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.

As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.