AI and Healthcare: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown - Event Recap
The Think Global Forum Roundtable brought together an accomplished panel of healthcare and technology experts to explore one of the most pressing and promising topics of our time: the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Hosted by Simon Hodgkins, Founder of the Think Global Forum, the event titled AI and Healthcare – The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown offered a compelling look at the transformative power of AI across clinical, technological, and human dimensions.
Panelists:
Dr. Harvey Castro – Dr. GPT™, ER Physician, Advisor, Healthcare Visionary
Jamie Whysall – Head of Health, Netcompany
María Mateos – Strategic Account Director, Vistatec Life Sciences
Simon Hodgkins – Founder, Think Global Forum (Host)
Key Highlights
Reimagining Healthcare Through AI
Dr. Harvey Castro opened with a powerful presentation underscoring the healthcare challenges that AI is poised to address: misdiagnoses, limited access to care, workforce shortages, and the rapidly expanding volume of medical data. Drawing on personal and professional experiences, Dr. Castro shared real-world examples of AI applications in diagnostics, accessibility, and preventive care.
From AI-generated discharge instructions in multiple languages and formats to early disease detection through voice analysis and medical imaging, Dr. Castro painted a picture of a future where AI isn't replacing doctors but enhancing their capacity to care.
From Crisis to Opportunity
"We're in a healthcare crisis," Dr. Castro explained, "but AI gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn that around." He illustrated this with examples ranging from wearable devices that detect arrhythmias to the use of AI in diagnosing rare conditions often overlooked by traditional diagnostics. His message was clear: AI, when used responsibly, can elevate healthcare from reactive to proactive.
The Data Divide and Digital Equity
María Mateos expanded on the critical issue of data quality and representation. Drawing a parallel between under-resourced languages in translation models and rare diseases in healthcare data, she emphasized the importance of inclusive training sets. "You can't treat what the system has never seen," she noted. Her call to action: prioritize underserved populations and include diverse groups in model training to prevent deepening existing health disparities.
AI as an Accelerator, Not a Replacement
Jamie Whysall provided a view from the frontlines of healthcare transformation in the UK. He described AI as an accelerant, enabling system-wide shifts in how care is delivered. "The future is already here," he remarked, "just unevenly distributed." He highlighted how the NHS is deploying AI for clinical documentation, workflow automation, and patient communication while emphasizing the importance of risk-proportionate implementation.
Balancing Innovation with Trust
Throughout the discussion, the panelists returned to the tension between moving fast and maintaining trust. While AI has the power to revolutionize care, the stakes in healthcare are human lives, not just digital KPIs. As Simon Hodgkins put it, "There's no MVP for patient safety. You have to build the plane before it takes off."
Actionable Takeaways
Augment, Don't Replace: Human-AI collaboration is the future. AI should be seen as a partner in care, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Design with Equity in Mind: Proactively address data gaps and representation to ensure AI models serve all communities effectively.
Start Small, Think Big: Introduce AI in low-risk areas, such as documentation or triage, then expand thoughtfully.
Embrace Regulatory Guidance: Frameworks like the EU AI Act will be critical in ensuring privacy, transparency, and ethical use of health data.
Keep the Patient at the Center: Engage patients in development and design processes to ensure tools meet real-world needs.
The Cusp of a New Era
The AI and Healthcare roundtable made it clear: we are on the cusp of a new era in medicine. While the technology continues to evolve rapidly, the focus must remain on responsible innovation, equitable access, and patient-centered design. As AI reshapes what's possible in diagnostics, care delivery, and prevention, the challenge is no longer whether we can implement it, but how we do so thoughtfully and effectively.
About the Think Global Forum
The Think Global Forum is a community of forward-thinking professionals, innovators, and industry leaders dedicated to shaping the future of business and society. Through its roundtables and thought leadership initiatives, the Forum provides a platform for collaboration, exploration, and practical insights into global challenges and opportunities.
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