Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary
Episode: Zafar Chaudry, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Chief AI, and Chief Information Officer, Seattle Children's
Release Date: June 25, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, hosted by Becker's Healthcare, Zafar Chaudry, the Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Chief AI, and Chief Information Officer at Seattle Children’s, shares his extensive experience and insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare IT. Recorded live at Becker's 15th annual meeting, the conversation delves into Zafar’s professional journey, recent technological initiatives at Seattle Children’s, challenges facing the healthcare industry, the impact of data analytics, remote work dynamics, leadership advice, and his passion for pediatric medicine.

Zafar Chaudry’s Background

Zafar Chaudry begins by outlining his unique career trajectory. With 39 years in healthcare IT and 8 years at Seattle Children’s, he emphasizes his transition from being a physician to a technology leader.

Zafar Chaudry [00:46]: "I've been at Seattle Children's for eight years. I'm a recovering physician who defected to healthcare IT many, many moons ago."

He reflects on his early exposure to technology during his medical practice in the early '90s, which sparked his interest and led to a long-standing career in healthcare IT.

Zafar Chaudry [01:16]: "When I was working as a doctor, I was given the opportunity of learning about technology... I realized that this thing could actually be something big."

Recent Initiatives at Seattle Children's

Over the past year, Zafar has spearheaded significant technological advancements at Seattle Children’s, focusing on enhancing their analytics platform to support future decision-making.

Zafar Chaudry [02:06]: "We've migrated all of that to Google Cloud using BigQuery Vertex AI. Now we're fully embedded with Google and have 171 clinical systems feeding into that data lake."

One notable achievement is the reduction of opioid use in pediatric patients through data-driven insights and AI applications.

Zafar Chaudry [02:47]: "We're at 50% non-opioid use in inpatient surgery and 98% outpatient surgery, no opioid use. We don't prescribe opioids as a standard now for kids going home for pain medication."

This initiative underscores the power of leveraging data to drive meaningful changes in patient care.

Challenges in the Healthcare Industry

Zafar addresses the most significant challenges currently facing the healthcare industry, highlighting the uncertainty in funding amidst a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Zafar Chaudry [03:54]: "With the changing healthcare landscape politically, it's going to be hard to fund all these initiatives if you're not necessarily sure how your funding is going to work in the near future."

He discusses the delicate balance between investing in innovative technologies and managing financial constraints, noting that many health systems are experiencing tighter margins.

Zafar Chaudry [04:50]: "Even though everybody wants to use the tools, we're going to have to find a fine balance between what we invest in... most health systems don't make the margins that we do."

The Role of Data Analytics

Data analytics plays a pivotal role in Seattle Children’s strategy to improve patient outcomes and address systemic inequities.

Zafar Chaudry [05:15]: "In our ED, we looked at how quickly we gave pain medication to kids by race. There was an inequity—we were giving white kids pain medication faster than other groups. We normalized that data."

He emphasizes the importance of empowering clinicians with self-service data tools to make informed clinical adjustments.

Zafar Chaudry [05:30]: "If you can teach the docs and the nurses to use their data in a self-service way, then they can make clinical adjustments which will then end up in better patient outcomes."

Remote Work and Employee Flexibility

In addressing modern workplace dynamics, Zafar shares his approach to remote work, prioritizing flexibility and output over traditional in-office mandates.

Zafar Chaudry [06:29]: "My team is predominantly remote. I've not mandated a return to work... If you mandate somebody coming to work, are they really going to be that more productive?"

He highlights the importance of trust and flexibility in attracting and retaining top talent, especially in a landscape where work-life balance is increasingly valued.

Zafar Chaudry [07:14]: "If I want to have the best talent and I want them to be flexible, I need to be flexible."

Zafar further explains how remote work allows for measurable outputs, aligning with the organization’s data-driven culture.

Zafar Chaudry [07:53]: "If I'm not seeing the output, then my job is to make self-correction to get to the output that I need."

Advice for Emerging Leaders

Zafar offers valuable advice to young and emerging leaders in the healthcare IT space, emphasizing the importance of active listening and stakeholder engagement.

Zafar Chaudry [08:53]: "Your biggest superpower... is active listening. Listen to your stakeholders, talk to your stakeholders, learn from your stakeholders."

He shares his strategy of engaging directly with clinicians and patients to understand their needs and challenges, fostering a collaborative environment.

Zafar Chaudry [09:11]: "If I want to know what problem my docs and nurses are facing, I'm going to get them in a room... ask them, 'What are you working on? How can we help you?'"

Inspiration for Pediatrics

Zafar explains his passion for pediatric medicine, describing it as the most fulfilling aspect of his career.

Zafar Chaudry [10:27]: "Pediatrics is the easiest job you're ever going to have, because every day you go to work, you never have to ask yourself why you do that job... I've always found the pediatrics draw."

He highlights the courage and resilience of children as a motivating factor, ensuring that his work remains purpose-driven.

Zafar Chaudry [10:27]: "What I've learned from kids is... they have more courage than anybody else. So that keeps me going."

Final Thoughts

As the podcast concludes, Zafar imparts a succinct yet profound piece of wisdom to listeners.

Zafar Chaudry [11:34]: "Listen. Listen to the people that you serve. If you listen actively and you take action, you'll be successful."

He reinforces the central theme of the conversation: prioritizing patient outcomes and fostering a culture of trust and active engagement within healthcare organizations.

This episode offers a comprehensive look into the intersection of healthcare and technology, through the lens of a seasoned leader who balances innovation with compassionate patient care. Zafar Chaudry’s insights underscore the critical role of data analytics, the importance of flexibility in the modern workplace, and the enduring impact of active listening in leadership.