Risk Never Sleeps Podcast

Episode #159: Why Clinicians Must Stop Waiting and Start Building with AI
Guest: Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun, CEO of the Medical AI Academy
Host: Ed Gaudet
Released: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging and lively episode, Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun (“Dr. B”), CEO of the Medical AI Academy, joins Ed Gaudet and co-host Saul Marquez to discuss the transformative power of AI in healthcare. The conversation centers around how clinicians must shed hesitation and actively build AI-driven solutions to improve patient care and safety. Along the way, the hosts explore Dr. B’s journey, the importance of AI literacy for clinicians, notable innovations, personal philosophies, and practical advice for would-be “builders” in medicine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Dr. Bencheqroun and the AI-Ready Movement

[01:21] Dr. B’s Podcast and Mission

• Dr. Bencheqroun introduces himself as “the AI-ready doctor,” hoping all clinicians can achieve AI readiness.
• The Medical AI Academy’s podcast focuses on AI awareness, fluency, and literacy for clinicians:
  “It’s about AI awareness, AI fluency, and AI literacy.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [01:21]

[01:43] Importance of Clinician Engagement with AI

• Dr. B sees the present as a pivotal moment for AI adoption in medicine.

2. Addressing Misconceptions & Fears about AI in Healthcare

[03:27] Common Physician Misconceptions

• Some physicians fear AI will replace them or eliminate the human touch:
  “No one can touch patient’s hearts, no one can reassure them... AI can’t do that.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [03:34]
• Drawing analogies to the advent of the internet, computers, and calculators — initial fears give way to adaptation.
• The conversation highlights that human connection and empathy in patient care are irreplaceable but can be augmented by AI.

3. AI in Practice: Innovations from the Field

[06:21] Real-World AI Solutions in Hospitals

• Dr. B shares a conference insight about advanced AI systems predicting patient falls at night—a major safety issue.
  • “There was an AI for that. It delineates the body... as it moves towards a position where it might fall. Gives you a prediction of that. That is amazing.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [06:55]
• AI minimizes “alarm fatigue” by offering predictive analytics instead of blanket alerts.

[07:39] Future of Hospital Automation

• Robots and automation in patient rooms are discussed—judicious deployment of empathy and practical assistance:
  • “And it might have more empathy.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [07:56]

[08:15] AI in Medical Education

• Dr. B describes an experiment comparing traditional morning report rounds with AI-supported education for medical students.
  • “Both... learned something, and they were most engaged.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [08:15]

4. Dr. B’s Origin Story & Philosophy

[08:54] Personal and Professional Background

• Dr. B is originally from Tangier, Morocco, and became a doctor out of lifelong passion.
• He emphasizes the importance of returning to one’s roots and giving back:
  “You first learn, then you earn, and then you return.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [09:37]

[10:03] Social Media Milestone

• Dr. B’s sharing of motivational posts attracted recognition from Denzel Washington himself:
  • “Guess who liked it? Denzel Washington. Mic drop.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [10:11]

5. Perspective on Readiness, Action, and Building with AI

[16:15] Advice to Builders and Innovators

• Dr. B’s core message for those hesitant to start with AI:
  • “Just start. Ready is not a state. It's a decision... Somebody else started messy, and they're getting ready while you're still waiting.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [16:15]
• He advises embracing intentional learning and a “builder” mindset, studying the underlying fundamentals of the systems and tools one wants to master.

[17:05] Regret vs. Failure

• Dr. B’s philosophy is shaped by a near-death experience that led to his ethos of action without regret:
  • “I would rather have failures than regrets.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [17:05]
  • “Everything after that is just borrowed time. And from that point on, no regrets.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [17:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On readiness and action:
  • “Ready is not a state. It’s a decision.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [16:15]
  • “While you're trying and waiting to get ready, somebody else started messy, and they're getting ready while you're still waiting.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [16:20]
• On embracing AI and new skills:
  • “Everything that I had a fear of, I’m going to go and do it... I want to be intentional about it, so I actually study it.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [18:15]
• On competition:
  • “People tell me, who are you competing with? And I say, myself, in 10 years.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [12:46]
• On living life without regret:
  • “I should have when I could have. That’s it.” — Dr. Bencheqroun [20:18]

Highlighted Segment Timestamps

• [01:21] — Dr. B introduces his podcast and AI literacy mission
• [03:34] — Addressing physician fears about AI’s role in healthcare
• [06:21] — Real-world use case: AI predicting patient falls
• [08:15] — AI’s positive impact on medical education engagement
• [16:15] — Dr. B’s core message: Don’t wait for readiness, just start
• [17:10] — Story of survival and adopting a life without regrets

Additional Insights & Personal Touches

• Dr. B’s cultural background influences his approach to medicine and teaching, embodying the values of learning, earning, and giving back.
• The conversation is peppered with humor, music and book recommendations, pop culture, and friendly banter, reflecting the importance of humanity in technology-driven healthcare.
• Dr. B’s Medical AI Academy and “AI-ready doctor” brand encourage clinicians worldwide to participate, learn, and lead in the AI revolution.

Where to Find Dr. Bencheqroun

• Website: medicalaiacademy.com & theAIreadydoctor.com
• LinkedIn: Active and shares updates regularly

Episode Summary:
Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun urges clinicians to dispel fears and inertia around AI, embracing curiosity and action over perfection. He advocates intentional learning and practical experimentation, sharing that “readiness” is a choice, not a destination. His approach blends technological optimism with a deep love for human connection and resilience, leaving clinicians with a powerful call: stop waiting, start building, and let neither fear nor regret dictate your influence on the future of medicine.