FHC #183: Will GenAI replace docs? How should medical schools respond?

In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two of the most pressing questions in healthcare today, each focused on the future of medical practice in the era of generative AI.

First, the hosts explore the controversial question: Will AI replace doctors? Dr. Pearl argues that, despite recent advances in AI that now outperform physicians in a growing number of diagnostic tasks, the answer is “no.” He explains why the healthcare system’s worsening physician shortage, its rising costs and patients’ enduring need for human connection all point to a future in which doctors remain essential.

However, he warns that clinicians won’t be immune to the pressures GenAI brings. If the technology is controlled by insurers or private equity firms, it will likely be used to speed up visits and reduce costs, not improve care. To avoid that outcome, Pearl urges physicians to lead AI’s integration into medicine, organizing into high-performing groups and shaping how the tools are used. Otherwise, he cautions, GenAI won’t replace doctors. But it will make their jobs miserable.

Later in the episode, the conversation turns to medical education. Pearl argues that U.S. medical schools are falling dangerously behind in preparing students for the AI revolution. While colleges and universities across the country are rapidly integrating generative AI into undergraduate curricula, most medical schools still rely on outdated teaching methods that emphasize memorization rather than application of information in clinical practice.

Pearl calls for an urgent overhaul of faculty training and curricular design, encouraging hands-on exercises where students use GenAI as a clinical partner. With this foundation, students can engage in diagnostic reasoning, design care plans, and collaborate with AI tools to improve patient outcomes. Without these changes, he warns, tomorrow’s physicians may be ill-equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Together, these topics speak to some of the greatest fears – and greatest opportunities – in the medical profession today. Listen to the episode to hear the full conversation and decide for yourself.

HELPFUL LINKS

• GenAI Won’t Replace Doctors, But It Could Make Them Miserable (Forbes)
• In The AI Revolution, Medical Schools Are Falling Behind U.S. Colleges (Forbes)
• Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

* * *

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #183: Will GenAI replace docs? How should medical schools respond? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.