Risk Never Sleeps Podcast — Episode #157

Title: The Doctor-to-Doctor Movement: Putting Patients First in a Profiteering System
Guest: Dr. Kianor Shah (Founder and Chair, Global Summits Institute)
Host: Ed Gaudet
Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the rapidly growing “doctor-to-doctor” global movement, spearheaded by Dr. Kianor Shah, aimed at reclaiming healthcare from profit-driven third parties and putting patients—and their doctors—back at the heart of care. The discussion also covers the potential of AI to serve as an equalizer in the healthcare landscape, the ambitions of the Global Summits Institute, and the importance of uniting clinicians to establish frameworks for the responsible adoption of technology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to the Global Summits Institute and the Doctor-to-Doctor Movement

• Dr. Shah introduces the Institute — a worldwide consortium of over 1,000 leading clinicians and innovators across 163 countries. The mission is to restore clinicians' voices and authority in healthcare, combating the dominance of profiteers and third-party administrators.

  • Quote: “We have initiated what’s called the doctor-to-doctor movement.” (01:08)

• Three-pronged approach:

  • Academic
  • Administrative
  • Financial

• The core goal:

  • Return decision-making power to doctors and patients
  • Counteract the focus on profit (EBITDA) over care
  • Quote: “For thousands of years it was just a patient and a doctor... Now they’re talking about EBITDA versus patient care.” (01:23)

• Systemic exhaustion:

  • Dr. Shah voices frustrations with increasing burdens placed by corporations, governments, and non-providers.
  • Quote: “If you’re not a doctor and you didn’t go to school to be a doctor and take an oath... you should be in the backseat, not in the driver’s seat.” (02:10)

AI as a Disruptive Equalizer in Healthcare

• AI’s potential:
  • Can eliminate whole workflows created by insurers and other third parties.
  • AI could level the playing field for doctors and patients, previously at the mercy of bigger players.
  • Quote: “AI...can replace the entire insurance workforce for pennies... If AI is done professionally and responsibly, it could be a tremendous tool for the benefit of patients and doctors.” (02:49)

The Global Summits and Policy Vision

• Annual Summits:

  • Gatherings of 700+ thought leaders, including high-profile doctors, health ministers, and standards organizations.
  • Planned summit in London: June 26–28, 2026 (04:11)

• Purpose:

  • Building consensus on policy, oversight, and AI regulation
  • Demonstrating the power of competitors collaborating for shared progress
  • Quote: “This event has been organized by 20 different competitors that have come together for the greater good. And we will demonstrate what the world can achieve when we bring competitors together.” (04:55)

Personal Insights and Motivations

• Dr. Shah’s backstory:

  • Motivation came from disillusionment after dental school—professed ideals not matching the “complete mess” of the commercialized system.
  • Quote: “They sold us a bunch of stuff about taking care of patients and putting them before your decisions. And then you come out into commerce and it’s a complete mess. You say to yourself, Who’s going to fix it if I don’t?” (05:39)

• Location and passions:

  • Dr. Shah is based in Palm Desert, CA, and is an avid gardener with 40+ fruit trees—conversation highlights the restorative nature of gardening and adaptation to the desert climate. (06:10–08:11)

Connections to AI Med and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Explains partnership with AIMed and the commitment to promote responsible AI in both medical and dental fields.
• Quote: “All of healthcare is going to be integrated and this event...is bringing medical and dental doctors together.” (12:43)
• Summit’s integration aims at fostering convergence between disciplines.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People are tired. They’re exhausted with the companies, private equity ordeals, the regulators, administrators, the governments...” – Dr. Shah (02:10)
• “AI, for example, can replace the entire insurance workforce for pennies... Now we have products and solutions that render these third parties...completely dropped off the table.” – Dr. Shah (02:49)
• “We will demonstrate what the world can achieve when we bring competitors together and then work for a common cause.” – Dr. Shah (04:55)
• "They sold us a bunch of stuff about taking care of patients... And then you come out into commerce and it's a complete mess." – Dr. Shah (05:39)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:46] — Dr. Shah introduces the Global Summits Institute
• [01:23] — Outlining the intentions behind the doctor-to-doctor movement
• [02:10] — Critique of third-party influence and the need to return control to doctors
• [02:49] — The transformative potential of AI in healthcare
• [04:05–04:21] — Details on the next Global Summit in London and its ambitions
• [04:55] — The power of collaboration among competing organizations
• [05:39] — Dr. Shah’s personal journey and motivation
• [12:43] — Emphasizing the convergence of medical and dental fields at the summit
• [09:23–12:12] — Lightning Round: Dr. Shah’s reflections, risk-taking, and practice philosophy

The Lightning Round — Personal Reflections

• Advice for younger self:

  • Value experience: “Experience—crumbs all.” (09:27)
  • “Had I listened to some advice from senior colleagues... I would have saved millions of dollars over the years.” (09:42)

• Riskiest moment:

  • Overexpansion in business, but also a gripping story: Driving into a hurricane to see his mother, flipping his car three times, and surviving the experience during dental school (10:16–10:59)

• Current practice:

  • Still practices dentistry three days a week with associates (11:16)

• Biggest fear:

  • Further third-party destruction of healthcare; his mission is to prevent this. (11:21)

Integration, Collaboration, and Invitation

• Dr. Shah emphasizes the need for convergence between medical and dental professionals as a model for broader healthcare unity.
• An open invitation is extended to listeners, especially clinicians hoping to empower their peers.
• Listeners encouraged to find more information at: globalsummits.it (08:33 & 08:57)

Conclusion

This episode offers a rare, impassioned peek behind the curtain of the global clinician movement. Dr. Shah’s mission is both radical and restorative: to decouple patient care from profiteering, leverage AI for good, and unite health professionals across borders and disciplines. The upcoming London summit aims to shape the future of patient-centered, tech-enabled care.

For show notes and additional resources, visit censinet.com.