Sylvie Legere sits down with Dr. John Prunskis to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and pain management. This episode unpacks the role of AI in identifying and treating chronic pain, particularly through innovative therapies like spinal cord stimulation.

Dr. Prunskis shares his expertise on how AI is not only enhancing patient care but also transforming how healthcare is delivered, with a specific focus on reducing dependency on opioids.

Dr. Prunskis discusses the mechanism of spinal cord stimulation, a procedure leveraging AI to dynamically interact with a patient's activity, offering personalized, non-invasive pain relief. By implementing AI, patients experience improved quality of life without the irreversible changes caused by traditional surgeries.

The conversation also touches on potential hurdles, regulatory frameworks, and the exciting future of AI in healthcare, setting the stage for broader discussions at The Policy Circle Summit on AI's role across sectors.

Dr. John Prunskis

Dr. John V. Prunskis, MD, FIPP, is a double-board-certified interventional pain physician internationally recognized for his leadership in pain management, regenerative medicine, and healthcare innovation. He is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Illinois Pain & Spine Institute, established in 1992, and currently serves as Director and Chair of the Medical Executive Committee at DxTx Pain and Spine, which he co-founded in 2020. Under his leadership, DxTx has expanded to more than 60 clinics across 10 states and delivered over one million patient visits. A 25-year Castle Connolly “Top Doctor” honoree as voted by his peers, Dr. Prunskis has dedicated his career to advancing evidence-based, minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain. Beyond clinical practice, he has played a pivotal role in shaping national policy, serving as a Presidential White House appointee to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pain Management Best Practices Task Force and co-authoring its landmark 2019 Final Report. He also served three consecutive four-year terms in the Lithuanian Parliament/World Lithuanian Community Commission representing 900,000 Lithuanian Americans. For his philanthropic and professional contributions, he was bestowed the Knight of the Order of Merit by the President of Lithuania. He is Vice Chair of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division, serves on the Advisory Board of Hippocratic AI, and is the founder of The Regenerative Stem Cell Institute. With over four decades of expertise, Dr. Prunskis bridges clinical excellence, innovation, and thoughtful public policy to expand access to ethical, effective, and technology-driven healthcare.

Check out the Illinois Pain and Spine Institute's website.