The Future of Medicine

What can fasting teach us about aging, and can the body receive some of its benefits without giving up food completely? Valter Longo, PhD, professor of gerontology and biological sciences, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, and author of The Longevity Diet, joins The Future of Medicine for a wide-ranging conversation about nutrition, fasting-mimicking diets, protein, chronic disease, and the biology of longevity.In this episode, Longo traces an unconventional path from aspiring rock guitarist to longevity scientist. He describes how the early death of his grandfather and the striking differences he observed between relatives living in Italy and Chicago helped shape his interest in why people age and develop disease.Longo explains how experiments in yeast led his laboratory to study the effects of sugar, amino acids, and fasting on lifespan. He also discusses the development of the fasting-mimicking diet, a five-day, low-sugar, and low-protein eating plan designed to trigger some of the biological responses associated with fasting while still providing food.The conversation also examines caloric restriction, time-restricted eating, breakfast skipping, and today’s enthusiasm for high-protein diets. Longo distinguishes between short-term changes in weight or metabolic markers and the much harder question of whether a dietary practice improves long-term health. Together, Longo and host Euan Ashley explore what scientists are learning about nutrition and healthy aging, why extreme approaches can carry tradeoffs, and how carefully designed dietary interventions might one day become part of preventive medicine.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

How can medical AI help doctors make better decisions while preserving clinical judgment and human connection?Travis Zack, MD, PhD, an oncologist, researcher, and chief medical officer of OpenEvidence, joins The Future of Medicine to discuss the future of AI in clinical care. OpenEvidence is an AI-powered platform that helps clinicians find and understand information from peer-reviewed medical research, clinical guidelines, and other trusted sources.In this episode, Zack explains why reliable medical AI depends not only on avoiding fabricated information, but also on finding the right evidence for each clinical question. He discusses how OpenEvidence is designed to bring relevant research into physicians’ workflows while leaving the final decision in the clinician’s hands.The conversation also looks ahead to more proactive forms of care. Zack describes a future in which AI could identify meaningful changes in a patient’s health or in the medical literature and alert physicians before the patient’s next scheduled visit. Zack also shares his research using language from medical records to improve cancer care. By analyzing how patients describe symptoms such as chemotherapy-related nerve damage, researchers may be able to better predict when treatment should be adjusted to prevent lasting side effects.Together, Dr. Zack and host Errol Ozdalga, MD, explore whether reliance on AI could weaken physicians’ skills, how medical education may change, and why human reasoning and empathy will remain essential to medicine. They also consider a central question for health systems: Will AI be used only to increase efficiency, or will some of the time it saves be returned to patients?Thank you for listening. Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, one of the world’s leading experts on infectious disease threats and pandemic preparedness, joins The Future of Medicine for a wide-ranging conversation about COVID-19, vaccines, airborne transmission, public trust, and what the world must do before the next pandemic arrives.Osterholm is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and has spent nearly five decades investigating outbreaks and advising public officials. In this episode, he reflects on the experiences that first inspired him to become a “medical detective,” including an unusual outbreak linked to thyroid tissue entering the food supply through hamburger meat.The conversation then turns to COVID-19 and the lessons that remain unresolved. Osterholm explains why he believes the United States needs an independent, nonpartisan review of its pandemic response—one focused on identifying what worked, what failed, and how changing evidence shaped decisions about schools, hospitals, masking, and public gatherings.“The pandemic clock is ticking,” Osterholm says. “We just don’t know what time it is.”He also discusses why public health guidance must be able to evolve. As Osterholm puts it, “Science is not truth. Science is the pursuit of truth.” New variants, new evidence, and changing risks do not necessarily mean earlier recommendations were made in bad faith; they reflect the reality of responding to a rapidly developing threat.Watch the full conversation to learn what COVID-19 revealed about the strengths and weaknesses of modern public health—and how science, vaccines, and more honest communication could help the world respond differently next time.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Dr. Michelle Mello, professor of law and health policy at Stanford University, joins The Future of Medicine for a conversation about one of the most frustrating and consequential parts of American healthcare: prior authorization. For many patients and clinicians, prior authorization is the process behind the letter saying an insurance company will not cover a medication, procedure, or service unless additional criteria are met. As Dr. Mello explains, this system is already difficult, time-consuming, and often painful for patients and care teams. Now, artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how these decisions are made.In this episode, Dr. Mello and host Dr. Euan Ashley discuss how insurers and healthcare systems are using AI in prior authorization, billing, appeals, and utilization management. AI may be able to speed up routine approvals and reduce administrative burden, but it also raises serious questions about transparency, bias, accountability, and whether patients are being protected from wrongful denials.The conversation explores what Dr. Mello describes as an “arms race” of AI systems, with insurers using technology to evaluate requests and health systems using their own tools to identify denials most likely to be overturned and draft stronger appeal letters. She also explains why appeals matter: a large share of insurance denials can be reversed, but many health systems do not have enough staff to appeal every case.Together, Dr. Mello and Dr. Ashley consider what responsible AI governance should look like in healthcare, why simply banning AI may not solve the underlying problems, and how AI could be used in ways that support patients, clinicians, and fairer decision-making. They also discuss the need for greater transparency from insurers, the role of private governance, and why academic medical centers have a responsibility to help shape the safe and ethical use of these tools.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the nation’s most influential public health leaders, joins Stanford Department of Medicine’s The Future of Medicine for a conversation with Dr. Euan Ashley about science, service, public trust, and the future of public health.In this episode, Dr. Fauci reflects on his early career as a physician-scientist, the first years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the creation of PEPFAR, the scientific foundation behind COVID-19 vaccines, and the challenge of communicating evidence in an era of misinformation.Together, Dr. Fauci and Dr. Ashley discuss what it means to lead with integrity when the stakes are high, and why long-term investment in science remains essential for pandemic preparedness and medical progress.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray — health economist at the University of Washington, physician, and founder of the Global Burden of Disease framework — joins The Future of Medicine to discuss what decades of data across 204 countries reveal about human health, and where it's headed by the end of this century.Dr. Murray's Global Burden of Disease project involves 19,000 collaborators in 167 countries and has produced more than 5,000 published papers. In this conversation, he explains what that data shows: remarkable progress on childhood infectious disease and HIV, a profound global shift toward chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, and a mental health crisis — rising steadily for over a decade — whose causes experts still actively debate.He also discusses why the widely circulated claim that American obesity rates had flattened is likely a statistical artifact, what the data projects for the coming decades (including diabetes overtaking heart disease as the world's leading cause of death), and the compounding health crisis facing the Sahel as population growth, poverty, and climate change converge.The conversation closes on the Lancet Commission on existential and catastrophic risks — a project Dr. Murray helped initiate that takes a data-driven look at long-range threats to humanity, from AI and synthetic biology to nuclear risk, out to 2100.It's a rare conversation that takes a long, honest look at the future — and doesn't flinch.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Dr. Samuel Klein, Division Chief and William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science at Washington University Medicine, joins The Future of Medicine for a conversation about obesity, metabolism, insulin resistance, and the revolution sparked by GLP-1 medications like Ozempic.In this episode, Dr. Klein explains why obesity is far more biologically complex than many people realize — and why some individuals with obesity remain metabolically healthy while others develop diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease.The conversation explores how fat functions not only as stored energy, but also as an active endocrine organ that communicates with the rest of the body through hormones and inflammatory signaling molecules. Dr. Klein discusses visceral fat, insulin resistance, inflammation, and why procedures like liposuction do not produce the same metabolic benefits as weight loss through diet, surgery, or GLP-1 medications.Dr. Klein also reflects on the unexpected rise of GLP-1 therapies, including how medications originally developed for diabetes transformed obesity treatment and may hold broader implications for cardiovascular disease, addiction, and other chronic conditions.Together, Dr. Klein and Euan Ashley discuss the future of metabolic medicine, precision approaches to obesity care, and why understanding metabolism may reshape the future of healthcare itself.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of the Future of Medicine, we welcome Dr. Robert Wachter, physician, author, and chair of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, for a conversation about artificial intelligence, healthcare, and the future of medicine.Dr. Wachter reflects on how the digitization of healthcare reshaped modern medicine — and why many of the frustrations clinicians experience today, from burnout to endless documentation, emerged during the first wave of the electronic health record revolution.The conversation explores why large language models like ChatGPT feel fundamentally different from earlier healthcare technologies, and how AI may finally help medicine move beyond the limitations of current electronic health records. Dr. Wachter discusses the promise of AI scribes, clinical copilots, patient-facing tools, and digital assistants that can help clinicians synthesize information, reduce administrative burden, and improve access to expertise.At the same time, he examines the risks of overtrusting AI systems, including hallucinations, deskilling, automation bias, and the challenge of keeping humans engaged when machines are right most (but not all) of the time.Together, Dr. Wachter and Euan Ashley discuss empathy, medical education, patient trust, and what happens when technology begins to act increasingly human.Looking ahead, Dr. Wachter shares why he remains optimistic about AI in medicine — and why the next few years could fundamentally reshape how healthcare is delivered around the world.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of the Future of Medicine, we welcome Crystal Mackall, the Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor and founding director of the Stanford Center for Cancer Cell Therapy at Stanford, for a conversation on CAR T-cell therapy, pediatric cancer, and the future of biologic medicine.Dr. Mackall reflects on her path from a working-class town in Ohio to becoming one of the world’s leading pioneers in cancer immunotherapy. She shares how early experiences with cancer shaped her interest in medicine, and how decades of research eventually helped lay the groundwork for today’s advances in engineered cell therapies.The conversation explores the evolution of CAR T-cell therapy, including the challenges of treating solid tumors and why many promising therapies can take decades to become reality. Looking ahead, Dr. Mackall shares her perspective on the future of medicine, including the growing role of RNA therapeutics, gene delivery, and in vivo cell engineering. She explains why the next generation of therapies may involve programming the body directly, rather than manufacturing treatments outside of it.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Stephen Quake, a bioengineer, physicist, and serial entrepreneur whose innovations have transformed how we measure biology and deliver care.Dr. Quake shares how his early fascination with building and experimentation led him from physics into biology, where he helped pioneer microfluidics, enabling the automation of complex biological experiments. He reflects on founding multiple companies to bring these technologies into real-world use, reshaping research and diagnostics.The conversation explores the development of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a breakthrough that allows doctors to detect chromosomal conditions using a simple blood draw instead of invasive procedures. Dr. Quake explains the key insight behind this advance: counting DNA molecules, and how it has since impacted millions of pregnancies worldwide.They also discuss the early days of genome sequencing, including Dr. Quake’s decision to sequence his own genome and what it revealed about the future of personalized medicine. From there, the conversation expands into liquid biopsies, transplant monitoring, and early cancer detection, highlighting how blood-based diagnostics are transforming how we detect and manage disease.Looking ahead, Dr. Quake shares his perspective on the next frontier: using advanced molecular tools and AI to detect disease earlier, understand human biology more deeply, and ultimately reshape the practice of medicine.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Yvonne "Bonnie" Maldonado, pediatrician and infectious disease expert at Stanford, for a powerful conversation on vaccines, public health, and the fragile progress of modern medicine.Dr. Maldonado reflects on the lessons behind her Grand Rounds talk, “Lessons from a House on Fire,” drawing from the global eradication of smallpox, one of humanity’s greatest public health achievements. She explains how targeted vaccination strategies helped stop a disease that once killed millions, and why that history still matters today.The conversation explores the growing resurgence of measles in the United States, driven in part by declining vaccination rates. Dr. Maldonado breaks down how measles spreads, why it remains one of the most infectious diseases known, and what current trends could mean for the future of public health.She also examines the roots of vaccine hesitancy, highlighting how risk perception, misinformation, and trust in institutions shape individual decision-making. From social media echo chambers to shifting federal policies, Dr. Maldonado discusses the complex forces influencing how people engage with science today.Looking ahead, she shares her perspective on rebuilding trust in medicine, the role of communication in public health, and why even small changes in vaccination rates can have large-scale consequences.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Priscilla Chan, MD, pediatrician and co-founder of Biohub, a first-of-its-kind research initiative combining frontier AI with frontier biology to accelerate progress toward curing or preventing all disease.Dr. Chan shares how her experience caring for children with rare and undiagnosed conditions shaped her commitment to transforming how science is done. She discusses how patient-led research communities are driving breakthroughs, and how new approaches to data sharing and collaboration are reshaping the pace of discovery.The conversation explores Biohub’s work to build a “virtual cell”—a computational model designed to simulate human biology—and how advances in artificial intelligence, large-scale datasets, and imaging technologies could allow scientists to better understand disease at its most fundamental level. These tools may one day make it possible to predict disease risk earlier, test interventions virtually, and personalize treatment based on an individual’s biology.Dr. Chan also reflects on the future of medicine, where the boundaries between research and clinical care continue to blur, and where physicians increasingly engage with data, biology, and technology to guide patient care in real time.Looking ahead, she shares her vision for a more proactive and precise healthcare system—one that moves beyond treating illness to anticipating and preventing it.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Jonathan Chen, MD, PhD, clinician, AI researcher, and Associate Professor at Stanford, whose work focuses on combining human and artificial intelligence to improve clinical decision-making.Dr. Chen reflects on the rapid rise of AI in medicine, and the moment he realized everything had changed. He also walks through surprising findings from his research, including studies showing that AI alone can sometimes outperform doctors using AI tools. He explains why this happens, from human bias and “automation errors” to the ways AI systems are designed to agree with users, even when they’re wrong.Looking ahead, Dr. Chen shares his perspective on the future of AI in medicine, including the risks of overreliance, the importance of clinical judgment, and how these tools could transform everything from medical education to patient care. He also explores the concept of “do no harm” in AI systems—and why safety and accuracy are not the same thing.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Eric Topol, MD, cardiologist, scientist, bestselling author of Super Agers, and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, whose work has helped shape the field of digital medicine and the use of data, genomics, and artificial intelligence to personalize care.Dr. Topol reflects on how medicine is shifting from treating disease to preventing it, and why extending health span—the years we live in good health—may be one of the most important goals in modern science. He explains how advances in biomarkers, wearable technology, and AI are making it possible to predict disease risk earlier and intervene before conditions like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s develop.Dr. Topol also discusses the science behind “super agers,” people who remain physically and cognitively healthy well into older age, and what research is revealing about the roles of the immune system, inflammation, lifestyle, and emerging therapies in determining how we age.Looking ahead, Dr. Topol shares his perspective on the future of preventive medicine, including how AI-driven prediction, organ-specific aging clocks, and new biological insights could transform healthcare from a reactive system into one focused on keeping people healthy for as long as possible.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Alexis Thompson, MD, MPH, pediatric hematologist and internationally recognized expert on sickle cell disease whose work helped lead to the first approved gene therapies for this serious condition.Dr. Thompson reflects on the extraordinary transformation of sickle cell care over the course of her career. From the early days of newborn screening and simple interventions like penicillin to today’s breakthrough gene therapies, the field has experienced what she calls “an amazing arc” of progress.Dr. Thompson also walks through the remarkable science behind gene therapy for sickle cell disease, and how CRISPR gene editing and lentiviral vectors (modified viruses such as HIV that are engineered to safely deliver genes) are being used to modify patients’ own stem cells, allowing them to produce healthy red blood cells and dramatically reduce the complications of the disease.Looking ahead, Dr. Thompson shares her perspective on the next frontier of genetic medicine: including efforts to make gene therapies safer, more scalable, and accessible to patients around the world. Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, physician, epidemiologist, and Editor-in-Chief of JAMA, whose work sits at the center of how today’s most influential medical research is evaluated, communicated, and translated into practice.Dr. Bibbins-Domingo takes us inside the high-stakes world of scientific publishing, exploring how editors weigh evidence, interpret peer review, and decide when research is strong enough to move the field forward. She explains why “no scientific study is perfect,” and what that reality means for clinicians, researchers, and the public.In this conversation, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo reflects on her journey from basic science to population health and editorial leadership. She discusses how journals are adapting in an era of information overload and AI, why context and communication matter more than ever, and how scientific editors think about balancing rigor, risk, and real-world impact.Looking ahead, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo shares her perspective on the future of medical publishing, and why reaching people where they are will be essential to maintaining trust in science and advancing patient care.As part of our ongoing series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine, bringing together leaders shaping the future of healthcare, this episode offers a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at how medical evidence moves from manuscript to medicine.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Mark Skylar-Scott, PhD, bioengineer and researcher at Stanford University, whose work sits at the forefront of 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.Dr. Skylar-Scott explores the bold challenge of organ manufacturing — why it’s one of the hardest problems in medicine, and why there is good reason for optimism. He explains how advances in bioprinting, vascular engineering, and scalable cell production are opening new possibilities for creating functional human tissues and, one day, whole organs.In this conversation, Dr. Skylar-Scott shares his journey from engineering and early 3D printing to pioneering work in bioprinting. He discusses why blood vessels are the central bottleneck in building living tissue, how biology and engineering must work together, and what it takes to scale from millions of cells in a dish to the hundreds of billions required to build an organ like the human heart.Looking ahead, Dr. Skylar-Scott discusses progress toward large-animal models and what it will take to move organ manufacturing closer to clinical reality.As part of our ongoing series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine — bringing together scientists and clinicians shaping the future of healthcare — this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at the forward momentum in organ printing and regenerative medicine.Thank you for listening!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Anna Lembke, MD, psychiatrist and professor at Stanford School of Medicine, and author of the bestselling book, Dopamine Nation.In this conversation, Dr. Lembke explores how modern life reshapes our brains — from digital media and compulsive overconsumption to addiction, recovery, and the science of pleasure and pain. She explains why “the more pleasure we get, the less happy we are,” and shares insights into how dopamine drives desire in today’s always-on world.She reflects on her clinical work in addiction medicine, the role of radical honesty in recovery, and why the stories we tell ourselves can either support healing or keep us stuck. Dr. Lembke also discusses evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment, the impact of social media on mental health, and why children and adolescents are uniquely vulnerable in the digital age.As part of our series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine — bringing together thought leaders who are reshaping our understanding of health — you won’t want to miss this thoughtful conversation on addiction, balance, and finding real joy in a dopamine-driven world.Thank you for watching!Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this powerful episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr Euan Ashley sits down with Dr. Miriam Mutebi, a breast surgical oncologist at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Mutebi discusses the rising incidence of cancer in low and middle-income countries, where 70% of global cancer deaths occur despite only 5% of resources being allocated to these regions.She shares her personal journey into medicine and surgery, reflecting on the challenges she faced as one of the few women in a predominantly male field. Dr. Mutebi highlights the importance of patient-centered care, emphasizing the value of compassion and personal connection in clinical settings, especially for women battling breast cancer.We delve into the cultural barriers that hinder effective diagnosis and treatment, explore the stigma surrounding breast cancer, and discuss how financial constraints often prevent patients from accessing the care they need.As a co-founder of the Pan African Women's Association of Surgeons, Dr. Mutebi is dedicated to promoting gender equity in global oncology and empowering the next generation of female surgeons across Africa.Join us for an enlightening conversation on the pressing issues in cancer care, the transformative power of mentorship, and the urgent call for equitable healthcare solutions.The Future of Medicine brings you weekly conversations with the innovators and thinkers shaping health and healthcare today. The show features extraordinary speakers from Stanford Medicine Grand Rounds, one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

What does it really mean to care for patients in an era increasingly shaped by technology?In this episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr. Euan Ashley is joined by Dr. Arthur Kleinman — psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, and one of the most influential thinkers on illness, caregiving, and the human experience of medicine. Across a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation, Dr. Kleinman explores the enduring distinction between curing disease and caring for people, arguing that medicine cannot succeed without truly understanding patients’ lived experiences.Drawing on decades of clinical practice, teaching, and scholarship — including his landmark works The Illness Narratives and The Soul of Care — Dr. Kleinman reflects on why communication remains one of medicine’s most under-taught yet essential skills. He discusses how medical training can unintentionally erode clinicians’ ability to listen, the moral importance of narrative and presence, and why patients so often value feeling heard as much as — or more than — technical expertise.The conversation also looks ahead, examining the role of AI in healthcare. While Dr. Kleinman sees enormous promise in technology as a tool to support clinicians and reduce administrative burden, he makes a compelling case that wisdom, empathy, and human connection can never be automated.From medical education and burnout to caregiving at the end of life, this episode offers a powerful reminder of why humanity must remain at the center of medicine — even as innovation accelerates.The Future of Medicine brings you weekly conversations with the innovators and thinkers shaping health and healthcare today. The show features extraordinary speakers from Stanford Medicine Grand Rounds, one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this compelling episode of The Future of Medicine, we dive into an insightful conversation with entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Cuban. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Cuban brings his entrepreneurial spirit to the forefront of one of America’s most pressing issues: healthcare.Join us as we explore Cuban's perspectives on the broken healthcare system, the escalating drug prices that impact millions, and his vision for reforming a system that often prioritizes profit over patient care. Through candid anecdotes and bold proposals, he challenges the status quo and highlights the innovative solutions he believes can create a more sustainable and equitable healthcare landscape.As part of a series dedicated to the thought leaders reshaping our understanding of human health, this episode offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from a business mogul who is unafraid to tackle complex healthcare issues head-on.Don’t miss this chance to hear from Mark Cuban as he sheds light on the future of medicine and what it takes to drive meaningful change.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this special episode of The Future of Medicine, host Euan Ashley sits down with Jennifer Doudna, Nobel laureate and co-discoverer of CRISPR-Cas9, to explore the dramatic ascent of genome editing and what it means for the future of medicine. From the promise of precision therapy that could be “one-and-done” to the challenges of translating groundbreaking science into scalable treatments, this conversation dives deep into science, ethics, policy, and the art of communicating complex ideas to the public.What you’ll hear:A primer on the CRISPR revolution: how a discovery two decades ago has evolved into a potential deluge of targeted therapies.Precision therapy that’s more than a symptom fix: the idea of genome editing as a “precision surgery” that could cure diseases rather than require lifelong treatment.From one patient to many: the path from an N-of-1 success to scalable, population-wide strategies, including the role of the microbiome in health and disease.Real-world regulatory perspectives: how agencies are thinking about repeatable, off-the-shelf genome-editing tools and what it takes to translate a breakthrough into a therapy.The regulatory and scientific roadmaps: the steps scientists and clinicians must navigate to bring CRISPR-based therapies to patients rapidly and safely.The power and responsibility of storytelling: why scientists must improve public communication and how clear, non-jargony narratives can build trust.Combating misinformation: reflections on the moment when science is under scrutiny and how researchers can connect with diverse audiences.Guest bio: Jennifer Doudna is a pioneering biochemist and a leading figure in the CRISPR gene-editing revolution. As a founder of the Innovative Genomics Institute, her work has opened new frontiers in biology and medicine. Her research continues to shape how we think about disease mechanisms, therapy development, and the ethics of powerful new technologies.Why this episode matters: CRISPR technology is at a pivotal moment — one that could redefine what’s possible in medicine within a generation. This episode offers an insider’s view of where the science stands, what’s required to move from amazing results to real-world therapies, and how we, as a society, can navigate the opportunities and responsibilities that come with transformative science.Notes for listeners:Not a distant dream: the conversation highlights tangible progress toward therapies that could be delivered in months rather than years, with the potential to affect thousands of patients.A balanced view: along with the excitement, the episode addresses safety, ethics, and the essential role of clear communication in building public trust.Public-facing science: practical thoughts on how researchers can explain their work to non-scientists — helping to bridge the gap between the lab and everyday life.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we sit down with Dr. Sumbal Desai to explore how consumer health technology is reshaping medicine at scale — and why the human connection between patient and physician remains central to care. From breakthrough blood pressure sensing on wearables to a world-spanning hypertension predictor, Desai shares the design philosophy, scientific basis, and real-world impact behind Apple’s health initiatives. The conversation also delves into practicalities of bringing health data to the bedside — how physician-facing reports are crafted to be digestible in under a minute, how faxes and PDFs are being replaced by smarter EMR integration, and how data snapshots from outside the clinic enrich clinical decision-making.Key themes and takeaways:The dyad of patient and physician: Why Apple emphasizes the patient–doctor relationship and how both sides should benefit from digital health data.Designing for the clinician: Reports that can be understood in 30 seconds to a minute, prioritizing clarity and usefulness without adding nuisance.From device to decision: Wearables moving beyond tracking to inform diagnoses, treatment decisions, and early warnings with novel sensing methods, including blood pressure measurements.Hypertension predictor: A first-of-its-kind deployment with global reach and the potential to identify hundreds of millions of cases. What success looks like and what it means for public health.Scale with responsibility: Delivering credible health insights at a population level while protecting privacy, safety, and scientific transparency.The Apple Heart Study and Stanford collaboration: A landmark public health study with hundreds of thousands of participants, findings on atrial fibrillation risk, and the importance of open publication to advance the field.Patient voices: Letters from customers about how devices have influenced their lives and opportunities to translate data into better care.The path forward: Opportunities and barriers as digital health technologies intersect with clinical care, research, and daily patient life.What you’ll hear in this episode:A behind-the-scenes look at how Apple designs patient-facing health information that doctors can readily use in conversations with patients.The “snapshots of life” philosophy outside the clinic and how those insights support holistic care.Practical steps in moving from faxes to modern, integrated health data workflows.Real-world examples of how a novel blood pressure sensing approach can alter care trajectories.Reflections on large-scale health studies conducted with academic partners, and why openness matters for scientific progress.Why this episode matters: This episode offers a candid, practically grounded look at how a tech-driven health platform is designed to support doctors, engage patients, and scale insights to millions — while preserving trust, nuance, and empathy at the heart of medicine.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr. Euan Ashley sits down with William Flanary, MD—better known to millions as Dr. Glaucomflecken—for a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation about medicine, media, and what it means to be a physician in the digital age. Recorded during a Stanford Department of Medicine Grand Rounds event, the discussion blends clinical reality with storytelling and comedy to reveal how one ophthalmologist built a second career as a creator, educator, and advocate.What you’ll hearThe path to ophthalmology and the double life: Will explains growing up as a class clown, choosing ophthalmology for his day job, and building a thriving online presence four days a week with podcasts, newsletters, live shows, and animated content.The alter ego and the empire: The origins of Glaucomflecken, how the character became a recognizable voice in medicine, and the role of his wife as CEO of the Glaucomflecken Empire—keeping projects organized from concept to stage.The craft of medical humor and education: How Will translates real clinical experiences into accessible, accurate content, balancing humor with medical detail, and the research process behind public-facing material.Open science and storytelling in publishing: The collaboration with the New England Journal of Medicine to expand engagement with clinical trials, and why journals are exploring creative formats to reach broader audiences while advancing understanding and participation.Medicine, policy, and disruption: A broader look at healthcare systems, costs, reform ideas, and physician-led advocacy—how clinicians can contribute to meaningful change without sacrificing patient care or scientific integrity.Personal balance and purpose: Will’s life with his wife and two kids, the sources of motivation—curiosity, community, and the belief that education can be entertaining and empowering.Why this episode matters The Future of Medicine explores how medicine is evolving beyond clinics, and Will Flanary’s story demonstrates how clinical expertise, storytelling, and digital media can improve health literacy, demystify research, and humanize the physician experience. The conversation offers practical approaches for clinicians who want to engage the public while maintaining rigor and patient trust.Takeaways for listenersA blueprint for blending clinical work with creative ventures, including safeguards for patient care.Techniques for clear, accurate health communication using humor, visuals, and storytelling without oversimplifying.Insight into modern publishing and multimedia dissemination, including why journals embrace creative formats and how clinicians can participate.Perspective on healthcare systems, cost, access, and reform, with thoughtful commentary on responsible advocacy.Inspiration for nontraditional career paths in medicine—educational content, policy dialogue, and creative ventures that stay grounded in patient care.Who should listenClinicians and trainees exploring nontraditional career paths in medicine.Medical educators seeking fresh approaches to engage students and the public.Researchers and publishers curious about multimedia strategies to broaden scientific reach.Healthcare professionals interested in health policy, health literacy, and patient advocacy.Anyone who enjoys medicine told through story, humor, and real-world experience.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

Episode Description Welcome to the Future of Medicine, a podcast from Stanford Department of Medicine. Meet the thought leaders reshaping how we understand disease, deliver care, and imagine what’s possible in human health. Built around Stanford Medicine Grand Rounds, one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine, this show features world-renowned physicians, scientists, innovators, and policy leaders from across the globe, plus Stanford faculty. They span the full spectrum of modern biomedical discovery—from breakthrough therapeutics and cutting-edge genomics to health equity, digital health, global health, neuroscience, AI, and the redesign of care systems. In every episode, we explore not only what these leaders are discovering, but why it matters—the science, the clinical implications, the human stories, and the societal forces that shape their work. Our goal is to give you a front-row seat to the conversations driving the next era of medicine and illuminate the ideas that will define the future of our field. Whether you’re a clinician, a researcher, a student, or simply curious about where medicine is headed, we’re glad you’re here. This is the future of medicine.What to ExpectA panoramic view of topics shaping modern medicine: breakthroughs, care delivery, and the human and societal stories behind them.Insight into the kinds of leaders guiding the field: world-class physicians, scientists, innovators, and policy leaders from Stanford and around the globe.A sense of why these conversations matter—not just in the lab, but in clinics, classrooms, and communities.A cue to who should tune in: clinicians, researchers, students, and anyone curious about where medicine is headed.Chapters (based on teaser timings)0:03 – Welcome to the Future of Medicine: the show’s mission and what this podcast covers.0:26 – The guest lineup: world-renowned physicians, scientists, innovators, policy leaders from across the globe, plus Stanford faculty.0:49 – Why it matters: the science, the clinical implications, the human stories, and the societal forces shaping their work.1:09 – Who should listen: clinicians, researchers, students, and the curious about the future of medicine.Why ListenGet a high-level map of where medicine is headed and why it matters to patients today and tomorrow.Hear how science intersects with society, and how broader forces shape discovery and care.Discover which voices are steering change in health care—from genomics and AI to global health and health equity.Who Should ListenClinicians, researchers, and students in health care and biomedical sciencesAnyone curious about the future directions of medicine and health systemsStakeholders interested in how ideas travel from bench to bedside to policyCall to ActionSubscribe to this Buzzsprout feed to catch every episodeFollow Stanford Department of Medicine on social platforms for updates and extrasShare with colleagues, students, and friends who care about the future of healthIf you enjoy the episode, consider leaving a rating or review to help others discover the showNotesThis episode serves as an introductory teaser for a broader series featuring leaders from Stanford Medicine and beyond.Content highlights the convergence of science, clinical practice, human experience, and societal context that shape the future of medicine.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.