Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Dr. Kapil Dhingra on Leadership, AI, and Value-Based Care at The Permanente Medical Group
Date: March 2, 2026
Guest: Dr. Kapil (Capel) Dhingra – Physician in Chief & Chief of Staff, Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center
Host: Scott Becker
Episode Overview
This episode features a dynamic conversation with Dr. Kapil Dhingra, a seasoned emergency physician and executive leader at the Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Dhingra explores the intersecting themes of leadership, lifelong learning, artificial intelligence, and the challenges—and promise—of value-based care in a diverse, rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dr. Dhingra’s Background & Perspective on Diversity
[01:23 – 02:51]
- Dr. Dhingra introduces himself as Physician in Chief and Chief of Staff at Kaiser Permanente San Leandro, serving a territory of 375,000+ patients in one of the most socio-ethnically diverse regions in Northern California.
- Highlights the facility’s diversity, with over 88 languages spoken, spanning Silicon Valley affluence to communities just above the poverty line.
“It is truly a privilege to care for such a diverse population.” – Dr. Dhingra [02:48]
2. The Roots of Lifelong Learning
[02:51 – 04:19]
- Dr. Dhingra credits his father, an immigrant and lifelong learner, for instilling a passion for continuous education and humility.
- Emphasizes the need to embrace change—especially rapid advancements like AI—in medicine.
“You have to be willing to also be humbled because things are changing so quickly and question our status quo so that we can do better for our patients.” – Dr. Dhingra [03:54]
3. Motivations for Entering Medicine and Pursuing Leadership
[04:53 – 06:40]
- Shares how his mother's breast cancer diagnosis inspired him to switch from studying economics to medicine.
- The power of compassionate care influenced his career shift; later, experiences as an ER physician motivated him to earn an MBA to improve healthcare systems.
“...what that did for me is it exposed the potential to care for others and that really made it easy to want to go into medicine.” – Dr. Dhingra [05:31]
4. Top Priorities: AI, Cost, and Patient-Centric Care
[06:57 – 08:57]
- Recent attendance at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference cemented his focus on:
- Cost of care (CMS efforts to eliminate fraud, rising pharmaceutical costs e.g. GLP-1s for chronic disease)
- The transformative potential of artificial intelligence
- Celebrates implementation of ambient listening tech for 10,000+ Kaiser physicians, enabling more accurate and efficient charting—allowing more time for patient care.
“Our practice is going to look different in just a few years. …Technology has such an amazing potential to help us.” – Dr. Dhingra [07:42]
5. AI in Oncology: Promise Amid Overload
[08:57 – 11:25]
- Dr. Dhingra discusses the information overload in oncology, where rapid advances and data glut challenge clinicians.
- AI’s potential: Leveraging big data and multidisciplinary approaches to personalize treatment and accelerate time from diagnosis to recovery.
“That’s the potential that we have with artificial intelligence as well, is we can personalize care ... in a much quicker way. Reducing that cycle time from diagnosis to treatment to recovery is critical, especially in cancer care.” – Dr. Dhingra [10:58]
6. Trends and Leadership: Easing the Clinician’s Burden
[11:45 – 13:08]
- Focus on workforce sustainability; asks how leaders can minimize waste and make clinicians’ work more seamless.
- Stresses “the power of listening”—to staff, patients, and innovation on the front lines.
“Our people point us in the direction we need to go. Our job is to make the pathway smoother.” – Dr. Dhingra [12:42]
7. Leadership Journey: Practice & Administration
[13:56 – 15:35]
- Shares the challenges and benefits of transitioning from full-time practice to physician leadership.
- Emphasizes importance of mentorship and staying clinically active to stay grounded and informed as a leader.
8. Advice to Emerging Leaders
[15:45 – 17:08]
- Two main pieces of advice:
- Build a strong mentorship network—both within and outside your field
- “The power of yes”: Accept new opportunities, especially those that feel daunting or outside your comfort zone.
“The other advice I give emerging leaders is the power of yes. Consider saying yes, and particularly say yes when you’re not sure of yourself.” – Dr. Dhingra [16:22]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Diversity and Privilege in Practice:
“We speak over 88 different languages in the GSA… it is truly a privilege to care for such a diverse population.” – Dr. Dhingra [02:42]
-
On Lifelong Learning:
“You have to be willing to also be humbled because things are changing so quickly and question our status quo so that we can do better for our patients.” – Dr. Dhingra [03:54]
-
On AI and the Future of Healthcare:
“I read a book that described artificial intelligence as almost like electricity. …There’s so much that healthcare is learning with this evolution of AI.” – Dr. Dhingra [07:13]
-
On Leadership Philosophy:
“Truly, to get to the most effective solution, you have to listen. …Our people point us in the direction we need to go. Our job is to make the pathway smoother.” – Dr. Dhingra [12:25–12:42]
-
On Saying Yes & Imposter Syndrome:
“Consider saying yes, and particularly say yes when you’re not sure of yourself. ...Oftentimes you are [ready], because that’s why someone asked.” – Dr. Dhingra [16:22]
-
On Humor and Family:
(After being asked if he’s funnier than Dave Chappelle)
“If you ask my kids, they would say Dave Chappelle’s a lot funnier, because my dad jokes [don’t] hold a candle.” – Dr. Dhingra [13:30]
Key Timestamps
- [01:23] Dr. Dhingra introduces himself and details about Kaiser Permanente’s diverse service area
- [03:07] Lifelong learning and influence of his father
- [04:53] Personal journey into medicine—mother’s illness as catalyst
- [06:57] Excitement about AI, cost innovation, and patient care advancements
- [08:57] Discussion on AI in oncology and fighting information overload
- [11:45] Physician/staff well-being and leadership by listening
- [13:56] Transition from clinical practice to physician leadership
- [15:45] Advice for emerging leaders: mentorship and the power of yes
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Dhingra’s conversation blends personal narrative, visionary outlook on technology, and grounded leadership wisdom. His commitment to diversity, mentorship, and embracing new opportunities resonates for anyone navigating the modern healthcare landscape.