Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: "Human-Centered AI in Healthcare"

Date: October 10, 2025
Guests:

• Dr. Jared Saul, Chief Medical Officer, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Dr. Heather Chait, AI Ecosystem Lead, Philips
  Host: Erica Spicer Mason

Episode Overview

This episode explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming clinical care and healthcare delivery, focusing on the practical partnership between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Philips. Through real-world examples, Dr. Saul and Dr. Chait detail what human-centered AI looks like today, the barriers to adoption, and how cloud infrastructure is enabling scalable, patient-centered innovation. Their discussion underscores a core message: AI, when implemented thoughtfully, has potential to make healthcare more efficient—and more human.

Guest Backgrounds & Perspectives

[00:47] - [02:52]

• Dr. Jared Saul (AWS):

  • Started as a radiologist; long-time technology enthusiast and entrepreneur.
  • Seven+ years at AWS, observing tech integration across healthcare/life sciences.
  • Sees AI as omnipresent in modern conversations about healthcare innovation:

    "Obviously, these days, every conversation involves the discussion of AI and how it can or is impacting healthcare." (03:44)

• Dr. Heather Chait (Philips):

  • Practiced medicine for 17 years as a reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon.
  • Now leads Philips' AI clinical ecosystem, building partnerships to advance clinical AI.
  • Deeply motivated by advancing care delivery via smart, clinically informed AI.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How AI is Impacting Clinical Decision-Making

[03:29] - [06:00]

• Dr. Chait: AI is already making a measurable difference, particularly:

  • Ambient listening tools: Freeing clinicians from data entry, enabling deeper patient engagement.
  • Imaging AI: Accelerates scan interpretations, gives clinicians more time for nuanced decision-making.

    "Tools like ambient listening free physicians from the keyboard so they can actually look their patients in the eye again." (03:36) "That kind of change has even convinced some physicians to delay retirement..." (03:49)

  • AI shifts burden away from admin work, facilitating true patient care.

• Dr. Saul:

  • Clinicians face information overload (scattered histories, rapid research, new care pathways).
  • AI's role: Summarizing/contextualizing data, providing relevant context at the point of care for faster, more up-to-date decisions.

    "There's just so much information... One area where AI is exquisitely helpful is to help summarize and contextualize some of that data." (04:52) "It really can take some of the load off... and result in more timely and up-to-date thinking." (05:23)

2. The Power of Partnership: Philips & AWS

[06:00] - [08:32]

• Foundational Data Work:

  • Dr. Saul: AWS and Philips focused on integrating and hosting massive, secure data sets:
    • 34 million patient exams processed in the cloud (past year).
    • 134 petabytes of data, covering a billion images and records.
    • This groundwork is critical for any AI innovation.

    "This foundational work is really essential to drive this next wave of technology." (07:08)

• Dr. Chait: Partnership accelerates innovation, ensures trust and security:

  • HealthSuite Imaging Cloud Packs: Enables high-speed remote reading, AI-driven workflows.
  • Radiology Operations Command Center: Real-time connections for advanced imaging oversight.

    "AWS provides the secure scalable cloud foundation. So together we can deliver innovations faster and with the trust clinicians and patients expect." (07:44)

3. Barriers to AI Adoption in Healthcare

[09:12] - [12:56]

• Dr. Chait: Cites findings from the Philips Future Health Index (16 countries, 1,900 providers, 16,000 patients).

  • Biggest Barriers:
    • Siloed, messy clinical data.
    • Trust in AI (especially among patients).
  • Encouraging Trends:
    • 80% of clinicians optimistic; patient trust rises when reassured of AI's supporting (not replacing) role.

    "Clinical data is messy, it's in many silos, and it makes it hard for clinicians to get a full picture of the patient..." (09:36) "Yet what we've also learned is that when providers reassure patients that AI is there to support, not replace them, their confidence rises." (10:32)

• Dr. Saul:

  • Fragmented, poor-quality data remains a major challenge (supported by McKinsey survey).
  • Skills gap: Only 6% of health systems have an established AI strategy.
  • Market is changing rapidly, which can lead to "wait and see" hesitation.

    "There's not a lot of AI expertise in health systems... I think the lack of expertise and the newness of the technology, it's going to take a little bit of time..." (11:33)
    "That hyperdynamic market can slow adoption because people want to wait and see how things settle out..." (12:23)

4. Cloud Infrastructure as an AI Enabler

[12:56] - [17:12]

• Dr. Saul:

  • Cloud offers scalable, secure, cost-efficient infrastructure needed for rapid AI development and deployment.
  • Examples:
    • Imaging AI: Cloud enables rapid processing and unlimited scalability for AI-powered diagnostics.
    • Amazon SageMaker: Platform for model development and testing, widely used by Philips.
    • AWS HealthLake: Brings FHIR-formatted clinical data together for algorithmic analysis.

    "You have to have a scalable, very resilient, very secure infrastructure... these are areas where the cloud really excels." (13:35)

• Dr. Chait:

  • NYU Pathology Example:
    • Pathology traditionally on glass slides—not AI-compatible.
    • In under a year, NYU digitized 100% of pathology cases; 95% now signed out digitally.
    • Over 90 pathologists adopted digital workflow, leading to faster collaboration and easier second opinions.

    "In less than a year, 100% of their surgical pathology cases are digitized and 95% are now signed out out digitally every day." (16:32)

    • Model expanding into cardiology and radiology via Philips Integrated Diagnostics.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• "Tools like ambient listening free physicians from the keyboard... some physicians [were] convinced to delay retirement."
  — Dr. Chait, (03:36 - 03:49)

• "AI is exquisitely helpful to help summarize and contextualize some of that data. If you do that at the point of care... it can take some of the load off the physician."
  — Dr. Saul, (04:52 - 05:23)

• "The foundational work is really essential to drive this next wave of technology."
  — Dr. Saul, (07:08)

• "Our commitment is simple, better care for more people. That's where the future is headed."
  — Dr. Chait, (18:19)

• "The future of healthcare AI really is more than just individual tools and algorithms... it's how do we create an integrated ecosystem..."
  — Dr. Saul, (18:39)

Closing Thoughts & the Future

[17:49] - [19:27]

• Dr. Chait:

  • AI already making care more personal; ambient and automated tools free up clinicians' time.
  • The future: AI at the point of care, improving speed and confidence of clinical decisions.
  • Philips & AWS: Committed to expanding access and quality of care.

• Dr. Saul:

  • Integration is key—AI must enhance the entire care ecosystem (diagnosis through follow-up).
  • Aim: More accessible, affordable, and human-focused healthcare.

    "Healthcare professionals focus on what they do best, which is caring for patients and less on administrative tasks." (19:05)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:47] Guest backgrounds and AI motivation
• [03:29] AI impacts in clinics: documentation, imaging, clinician/patient experience
• [06:00] Building data infrastructure for scalable AI
• [09:12] Real-world barriers to adoption: data silos, trust, and skills
• [12:56] Cloud as critical infrastructure; examples from AWS, Philips, NYU
• [17:49] Final thoughts: The human side of AI and the future of care

Summary for New Listeners:
This episode provides a clear, up-to-the-minute look at how AI is reshaping healthcare from the ground up. From improved workflows that let doctors spend more quality time with patients, to massive digital transformation in fields like pathology, the potential—and challenges—of AI are explored with candor. Drs. Saul and Chait emphasize that an integrated, trustworthy ecosystem is essential, and when AI is thoughtfully deployed, it can truly make care more human.