Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary

Episode: Sunil Dadlani, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Transformation Officer at Atlantic Health System
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Host: Molly Gamble

Introduction and Guest Overview

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Molly Gamble welcomes Sunil Dadlani, the Executive Vice President (EVP), Chief Information and Digital Transformation Officer, and Chief Cyber Security Officer at Atlantic Health System. Sunil provides an overview of his extensive role, which now also includes responsibilities for venture studio and innovation. He describes Atlantic Health System as a nationally recognized integrated healthcare system with eight hospitals, over 500 ambulatory sites, and a workforce exceeding 20,000 members, serving more than five million community members across the northeastern United States.

Defining AI Leadership in Healthcare

Key Discussion Points:

• AI as a Disruptive Force: Sunil emphasizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most significant disruptive factors in today’s rapidly changing world. He acknowledges AI’s vast potential while also highlighting the inherent risks and concerns it brings.

• Enterprise-Wide Responsibility: AI leadership is not confined to a single department or role. Instead, it requires a collaborative, enterprise-wide approach involving cross-functional leadership and both internal and external partnerships.

• Integration Beyond Technology Deployment: Effective AI leadership involves embedding AI into the core operations, financial structures, and most importantly, patient outcomes and safety, rather than merely deploying algorithms or launching pilot projects.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [04:08]:
"AI leadership is not just deploying some algorithms or launching some pilot projects. It is about how do you embed technology advancements and non-human intelligence into the very fabric of how care is perceived, delivered and in every fabric of healthcare."

Cultivating an AI-Forward Culture

Key Discussion Points:

• Change Management: Sunil discusses the critical role of culture in AI leadership, emphasizing that culture must support smart risk-taking and embrace the inevitability of failure as a path to learning and innovation.

• Challenging the Status Quo: Organizations must encourage curiosity over comfort, empower decision-making at all levels, and adopt a multidimensional approach that includes top-down and bottom-up strategies, as well as internal and external collaborations.

• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Emphasizing the need for continuous personal and organizational learning, Sunil highlights the importance of redefining oneself in the face of AI advancements to remain relevant and competitive.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [04:47]:
"AI leadership involves challenging the status quo and looking at things from a very different angle. You are embracing curiosity over comfort, you are willing to take risks, and you are empowering decision-making at every level."

Understanding AI Maturity

Key Discussion Points:

• AI Roadmap Stages: Sunil outlines the stages of AI maturity, ranging from foundational phases like building governance infrastructure to reaching national leadership by setting standards and publishing advancements.

• Measuring AI Maturity: Criteria include the organization’s ability to build ethical and secure AI solutions, well-defined use cases with clear ROI, integration into enterprise workflows, continuous monitoring, and an impact-driven approach beyond pilot phases.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [10:22]:
"You have to ask where your organization is on the AI roadmap—from foundational building blocks to national leadership. It involves not just deploying AI but ensuring it’s ethical, secure, and integrated into your workflows with measurable outcomes."

Current AI Priorities at Atlantic Health System

Key Discussion Points:

• Prioritization Amidst AI Noise: Sunil stresses the importance of prioritization in AI initiatives to avoid spreading resources too thinly across unnecessary projects.

• Key Focus Areas:

  • Patient Experience and Engagement: Enhancing experiences to meet modern expectations similar to industries like hospitality and technology.
  • Operational Efficiencies: Improving areas such as revenue cycle management, denial management, and referral management.
  • Clinical Decision Making: Utilizing AI to support clinician efficiency, reduce burnout through ambient technologies, and advance clinical imaging capabilities.
  • Hospital Efficiencies: Optimizing patient throughput, ER operations, reducing length of stay, readmissions, and adverse events.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [12:28]:
"We are laser-focused on enhancing patient and clinician experience, improving operational efficiencies, and advancing clinical decision-making through AI. These areas are where we see the most significant impact and opportunities for innovation."

Challenges in AI Implementation: The Art of Saying No

Key Discussion Points:

• Strategic Prioritization: Sunil explains that the hardest part of AI leadership is knowing when to say no, even to promising projects, to maintain focus on initiatives that offer the highest impact and value.

• Criteria for Declining Projects:

  • Lack of defined measures of success or ROI.
  • Projects that do not address system-wide problems.
  • Technical, regulatory, or financial challenges that hinder feasibility.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [16:47]:
"One of the toughest decisions is saying no to projects that lack a clear ROI or do not align with our system-wide goals. It's essential to prioritize initiatives that can truly move the needle for our organization."

Supporting Clinicians and Staff During AI Integration

Key Discussion Points:

• Collaborative Approach: Sunil emphasizes the importance of involving clinicians and care team members from the outset in defining problems, selecting technologies, and embedding AI solutions into workflows.

• Human-in-the-Loop: Ensuring that AI tools support rather than burden clinicians by reducing administrative tasks and allowing them to focus more on patient care.

• Continuous Feedback and Refinement: Maintaining an ongoing dialogue with clinical staff to gather feedback, refine AI solutions, and ensure sustained effectiveness and relevance.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [19:24]:
"You have to involve physicians and care team members in every step—from problem definition to technology selection and continuous feedback—to ensure that AI solutions truly support their workflows and reduce their administrative burden."

Concluding Thoughts on AI Leadership

Key Discussion Points:

• Continuous Journey: AI transformation is not a one-time project but an ongoing process that requires continuous evolution and adaptation.

• Balancing Innovation and Relevance: Sunil advises finding a balance between adopting cutting-edge technologies and not falling too far behind competitors, ensuring that the organization remains both innovative and relevant.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [22:26]:
"AI transformation is a continuous journey. You must find the sweet spot between adopting new technologies and maintaining relevance, as both extremes can lead to obsolescence."

Final Remarks

Molly Gamble concludes the episode by appreciating Sunil Dadlani’s comprehensive insights into AI leadership within the healthcare sector. Sunil reiterates the importance of strategic prioritization, collaborative culture, and continuous learning in successfully integrating AI into a large healthcare system.

Notable Quote:
Sunil Dadlani [23:38]:
"Technology has two traits—it doesn't forget and it doesn't forgive. Balancing innovation with strategic implementation is crucial to remain relevant and effective."

This episode offers valuable perspectives on leading AI initiatives in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of culture, strategic prioritization, and continuous collaboration to harness AI’s full potential while mitigating its risks.