E30. AI in Asthma Care with Dr. Meraj Khan: From Innovation to Real-World Clinical Practice

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Meraj Khan, co-founder and CEO of Digi Bios, to answer a practical question: is AI actually ready for real-world asthma care?We talk about why the biggest barrier is no longer the technology itself. The real gap is translation into care. Many AI tools struggle with workflow integration, real-world validation, and reimbursement models. If it does not fit inside the clinic, it will not be used.Dr. Khan breaks down where AI can help today: continuous monitoring, early screening, triage, risk stratification, and decision support. The goal is not to replace clinicians. It is to empower them and support patients with clearer insights.We also explore his AI readiness framework: define the problem, manage it properly, then operationalize it in real settings. Trust becomes central. That means transparency, explainability, diverse datasets, and ongoing auditing to reduce bias.Using Lung Sense as a case study, we discuss lessons learned from moving beyond controlled research environments into hospital deployment, long-term care, and remote settings. The feedback from clinicians is clear: do not give us more data. Give us clarity.This conversation is about implementation, accountability, and what it will actually take for AI to improve asthma outcomes.00:30 Welcome Back Dr Khan01:45 Why Adoption Lags05:03 What AI Can Do Now08:13 Clinic Reality Check12:17 Why Tools Fail15:10 Patient Expectations17:44 Lung Sense Lessons22:22 Refining With Feedback24:16 What Trustworthy AI Means28:16 Patients and AI Literacy29:51 Scaling Adoption for Patients32:23 Medical Disclaimer and Scope32:46 Can AI Prevent Attacks36:07 Where AI Helps Most Today38:06 Data Bias and Governance42:55 Myth vs Reality AI Limits49:00 When AI Is Clinic Ready50:54 What’s Next for DigiBios54:01 One Last Breath MessageConnect with us (@BeyondTheWheeze):Check us out on InstagramFollow Beyond the Wheeze on LinkedInConnect with us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookSpeaking services, media, blog & news on our websiteEmail Josh directly at [email protected] video podcasts more your thing? Check us out on YouTube!Visit Asthma Canada, or the Lung Health Foundation, to see how you can get involved today.